Expert Star Battle answer — May 19, 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 8, column 2).
3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 1).
4. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
6. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
7. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
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 8).
9. Joint analysis (Region 7 + Row 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 2).
10. Clump analysis (Column 1): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 2).
11. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
12. Region confined to column: Eliminate other column candidates (row 1, column 1).
13. Region confined to column: Eliminate other column candidates (row 7, column 1).
14. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
15. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
16. Squeeze (rows 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 8).
17. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 6).
18. Crowding (Column 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
19. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
20. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
21. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 2).
22. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 8).
23. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 8).
24. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
25. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
26. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
27. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 6).
28. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 9).
29. 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 5).
30. Two last candidates (row 1): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 2, column 3).
31. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 2, column 5).
32. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 5).
33. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 5).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
37. Row 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 7).
38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
39. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 6).
42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
54. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
56. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.