Hard 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 2, column 9).
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 2, column 10).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 10).
5. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 9).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 10).
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 7, 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 7, column 3).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 2).
11. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
12. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 2).
13. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 3).
14. 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 5).
15. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 3).
16. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
17. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
18. Column 2 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
19. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 1).
20. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 4).
21. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
22. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 6).
23. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
24. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
25. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 7).
26. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 5).
27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
29. Composite container (rows 1-4): Regions 2, 5 and 6 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 3, column 5).
30. Crowding (Column 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
31. Composite container (rows 1-5): Regions 2, 5 and 6 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 10 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 7).
32. Generalized counting (columns 8-10): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 8).
33. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 7).
34. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
35. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 8).
36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
38. Row 3 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
39. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
43. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 10).
44. Column 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
46. Row 1 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
47. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 9).
48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 10).
49. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 5).
50. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 5).
51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
53. Column 4 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 4).
54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 3).
55. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
56. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 3).
57. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
58. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 1).
59. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
60. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
61. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
62. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.