Expert Star Battle answer — July 2, 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 7, 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 4, column 3).
4. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 2).
5. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 2).
6. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 5).
8. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 5).
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 1).
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 2, column 2).
11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 1).
12. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 2).
13. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
14. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
15. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
16. Column 2 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 2).
17. Clump analysis (Column 1): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 7, column 3).
18. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
19. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
20. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 8).
21. Composite container (columns 3-6): Regions 6, 8 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 5).
22. Composite container (columns 3-8): Regions 2, 6, 8 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 12 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 7).
23. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
24. Generalized counting (columns 7-7): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 7).
25. Joint analysis (Row 3 + Row 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 1, column 9).
26. Joint analysis (Row 3 + Row 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 5, column 9).
27. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 9).
28. Composite container (rows 7-9): Regions 4 and 7 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 6 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 8, column 6).
29. Crowding (Row 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 9, column 8).
30. Crowding (Column 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
31. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
32. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
33. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
34. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
35. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 6).
36. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
37. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 9).
38. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 7).
39. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 8).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
46. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 1).
47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
52. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 3).
53. Two last candidates (column 5): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 2, column 6).
54. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
55. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
56. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
58. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
60. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
61. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
62. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
63. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
64. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.