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