Expert Star Battle answer — June 10, 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 8).
3. 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 9).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 9).
5. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
6. 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).
7. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
8. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
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 4, column 6).
10. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
11. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 4).
12. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 6).
13. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 2).
14. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 2).
15. Undercounting: 2 regions fit in cols 8-9, eliminate 2 outside candidates (row 1, column 8).
16. Generalized counting (rows 1-2): region star limits exclude these cells (row 3, column 5).
17. Generalized counting (rows 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 4, column 1).
18. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
19. Composite container (rows 1-2): Region 9 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 4 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 8).
20. Squeeze (rows 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 9).
21. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
23. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
25. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
26. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
27. 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).
28. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 6).
29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
31. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
32. Row 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 1).
33. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 3).
34. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
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 6, column 7).
36. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
38. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 5, column 6).
39. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 5).
40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
46. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
48. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
50. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
53. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 1).
54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
55. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 1).
56. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
57. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 6).
58. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 7).
59. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.