Expert Star Battle answer — June 7, 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 5).
3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 4).
4. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
6. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
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 5, column 6).
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 8, column 2).
9. 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 9).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 9).
11. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
12. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
13. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
14. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 4).
15. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 9).
16. Generalized counting (rows 1-1): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 7).
17. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
18. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 6).
19. 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 6).
20. Two last candidates (column 6): Eliminate 3 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 5).
21. Clump analysis (Column 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 4).
22. Generalized counting (rows 7-7): region star limits exclude these cells (row 7, column 8).
23. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
24. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
25. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 9).
27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
28. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
30. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 2).
31. Row constraint forcing: Row 1 can only take 1 star, region needs 2 (row 2, column 3).
32. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
33. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 2).
34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
35. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 1).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 5).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
43. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 3).
44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
49. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
52. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 6).
54. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.