Expert Star Battle answer — May 15, 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. 3-cell region rule: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 2).
3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 2).
4. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
6. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
7. Column 2 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 1).
9. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 4).
10. 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).
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 5, column 5).
12. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
13. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
14. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 7, column 6).
15. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 6).
16. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
17. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
18. Crowding (Row 3): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
19. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 8).
20. Crowding (Column 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
21. Two last candidates (row 5): Eliminate 3 cells adjacent to both (row 4, column 9).
22. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 7).
23. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 3).
24. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
25. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
26. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
28. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
29. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
30. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
31. Column 9 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
40. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
42. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 5).
43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
45. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
48. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.