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