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