Expert Star Battle answer — April 14, 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 6, column 1).
3. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 6, column 2).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 1).
5. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 1).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 2).
8. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 7).
9. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 8).
10. Undercounting: 2 regions fit in cols 8-9, eliminate 2 outside candidates (row 1, column 8).
11. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 6).
12. Composite container (rows 6-9): Regions 2, 3 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 1 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 5, column 5).
13. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 6).
14. Joint analysis (Region 7 + Row 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 2).
15. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - column 1 can only hold 2 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 3 (row 1, column 3).
16. Joint analysis (Column 2 + Region 9): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 3).
17. Squeeze (rows 1-2): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 9).
18. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - row 3 can only hold 2 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 3 (row 3, column 5).
19. Joint analysis (Region 7 + Row 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 1).
20. Triple analysis (Column 6 + Row 2 + Column 5): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 4).
21. Quad analysis (Row 6 + Row 5 + Region 2 + Column 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 3).
22. Squeeze (columns 2-3): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 2).
23. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
24. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Row 8 would only have room for 1 of the 2 stars it still needs (row 1, column 4).
25. 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 6).
26. Joint analysis (Column 3 + Column 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 5, column 2).
27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
28. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
30. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
31. 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 7).
32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 6).
33. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
34. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
36. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 4).
37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
43. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
46. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
47. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 2).
48. Column 4 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 4).
49. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 7).
50. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
54. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
56. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 6).
57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
58. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
60. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.