Expert Star Battle answer — April 23, 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 2).
3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 3).
4. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
6. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
7. 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).
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 5, column 8).
9. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 7).
10. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, 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 2, 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 2, column 2).
13. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 6).
14. Crowding (Region 9): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
15. 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 5).
16. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 7).
17. Squeeze (columns 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 5).
18. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 4).
19. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in rows 1-3, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 3, column 1).
20. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 6).
21. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
22. Squeeze (columns 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 5).
23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
25. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
26. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
27. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 7).
28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
29. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
31. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
35. Row 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 5).
36. Column 7 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 7).
37. Column 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 9).
38. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 6).
39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
40. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 6).
41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
44. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
46. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
49. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 1).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
51. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.