Expert Star Battle

Expert Star Battle answer — May 22, 2026

Stuck on the May 22, 2026 expert Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 grid — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Tap Next to step through it, or brush up on the rules first.

Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 49

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 3).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 6).
  6. Generalized counting (rows 1-1): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 1).
  7. Generalized counting (rows 7-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 6, column 6).
  8. Composite container (rows 7-9): Regions 2 and 4 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 6, column 3).
  9. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 1).
  10. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
  11. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 6).
  12. Clump analysis (Row 7): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 7, column 4).
  13. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 1).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 7).
  15. Squeeze (columns 1-2): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 3).
  16. Crowding (Column 3): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 4, column 2).
  17. Generalized counting (columns 1-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 2, column 5).
  18. Composite container (rows 2-5): Regions 6 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 5 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 1, column 8).
  19. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 8).
  20. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  21. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 7).
  22. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
  24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
  25. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  26. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
  28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
  31. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  32. Row 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 5).
  33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
  34. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 1).
  35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
  38. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 3).
  39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
  41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 5).
  43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  45. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 5).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
  47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  49. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.