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