Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — June 14, 2026

Stuck on the June 14, 2026 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Tap Next to step through it, or brush up on the rules first.

Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 60

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 4, column 2).
  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 5, column 9).
  4. 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 9).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 4).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 2).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
  9. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in rows 8-10, eliminate 6 outside candidates (row 8, column 3).
  10. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
  11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 10).
  12. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
  13. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 1).
  14. Clump analysis (Row 8): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 8, column 8).
  15. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  16. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 10).
  17. Column 10 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 10).
  18. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 9, column 5).
  19. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 4).
  20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 3).
  21. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 6).
  23. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 8).
  24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
  25. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  26. Column 8 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
  27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
  28. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
  30. Two last candidates (column 7): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 6).
  31. Two last candidates (column 6): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 3, column 5).
  32. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
  33. Undercounting: 8 regions fit in rows 3-10, eliminate 2 outside candidates (row 3, column 1).
  34. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  36. Row 4 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
  37. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 3).
  38. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 2).
  39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
  41. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
  43. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
  44. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 4).
  45. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 7).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
  55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  56. Column 2 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
  57. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 1).
  58. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 1).
  59. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  60. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.