Expert Star Battle answer — April 21, 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 3, column 4).
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 3, column 5).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 4).
5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 4).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 5).
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 8, column 3).
9. 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 6).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 5).
11. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
12. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 8).
13. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 8).
14. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 9).
15. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
16. Squeeze (rows 1-2): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 3).
17. Crowding (Column 3): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
18. Squeeze (columns 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 2).
19. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 7).
20. Generalized counting (rows 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 4, column 7).
21. Squeeze (rows 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 8).
22. Composite container (rows 1-4): Regions 1, 3 and 4 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 6).
23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
25. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 4).
26. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 3).
27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
28. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 2).
30. Two last candidates (column 5): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 8, column 6).
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 8, column 8).
32. 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 8).
33. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 9).
34. Row 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
39. Row 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
40. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
41. Row 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 1).
42. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 8).
43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
44. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
46. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
47. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
48. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 1).
49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
54. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
56. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 9).
57. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.