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