Expert Star Battle answer — April 13, 2026

Full written solution

Every deduction from the walkthrough above, in order. Each technique is explained in the Star Battle strategy guide.

1. Starting position — the grid is split into regions (bold outlines). Each row, column, and region needs exactly two stars, and no two stars may touch.
2. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 2).
3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 2).
4. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
5. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 5, column 6).
6. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 5, column 7).
7. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 7).
8. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
9. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 6).
10. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 7).
11. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 7, column 2).
12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 3).
13. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
14. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 8).
15. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 6).
16. Crowding (Column 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
17. Generalized counting (columns 7-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 4, column 7).
18. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
19. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
20. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 1).
21. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 9).
22. Composite container (rows 4-9): Regions 1, 3, 5 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 12 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 5, column 4).
23. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 6).
24. Squeeze (columns 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 9).
25. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
26. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 9).
27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
28. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 1).
29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
30. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
31. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 4).
32. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
33. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
37. Column 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
39. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 8).
40. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 5).
41. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 4).
42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
46. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
48. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
50. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 5).
51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
52. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
54. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.