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