Expert Star Battle answer — May 2, 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 4, column 8).
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 5).
5. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
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. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 8).
9. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
10. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
11. Undercounting: 2 regions fit in cols 1-2, eliminate 2 outside candidates (row 5, column 1).
12. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - row 7 can only hold 2 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 3 (row 7, column 2).
13. Joint analysis (Row 5 + Row 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 4, column 6).
14. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
15. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 1).
16. Squeeze (columns 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 8).
17. Joint analysis (Row 5 + Region 5): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 6, column 6).
18. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
19. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 7).
20. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 6).
21. Joint analysis (Row 8 + Row 7): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 9, column 2).
22. Joint analysis (Column 2 + Column 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 5, column 3).
23. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 9).
24. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
25. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 3).
26. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 8).
27. Squeeze (columns 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 2).
28. Generalized counting (columns 3-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 3).
29. Squeeze (columns 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 1).
30. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
31. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 1).
32. Clump analysis (Row 1): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 6).
33. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
37. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
38. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 6).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
41. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
44. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 7).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
46. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 8).
47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
48. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
50. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
54. Row 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
56. Row 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 9).
57. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 7).
58. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 8).
59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
60. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
61. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
62. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.