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