Expert Star Battle answer — June 4, 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. 3-cell region rule: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 4).
3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 3).
4. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
6. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
7. Row 3 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 7).
9. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
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 7).
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 7).
12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 6).
13. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
14. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
15. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
16. Row 1 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
17. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
18. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
19. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
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 8, column 6).
21. 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 6).
22. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 7).
23. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
24. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
25. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
26. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
27. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
28. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
29. Row 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 1).
30. Row 6 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
31. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 4).
32. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 4).
33. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
34. Squeeze (columns 1-2): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 3).
35. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
39. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
46. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
48. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.