Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — July 3, 2026

Stuck on the July 3, 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 57

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 7).
  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 8).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 8).
  5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
  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 9, column 8).
  7. 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 5).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
  10. Undercounting: 5 regions fit in rows 1-5, eliminate 5 outside candidates (row 5, column 1).
  11. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
  12. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 2).
  13. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  14. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 4).
  15. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  16. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
  17. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  18. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 10).
  19. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 10).
  20. Clump analysis (Column 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
  21. Clump analysis (Column 6): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 2, column 4).
  22. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  23. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 4).
  24. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 9).
  25. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 8).
  26. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  27. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
  28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 10).
  29. Region complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 10).
  30. Column 8 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
  31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
  32. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
  34. Row 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  35. Column 10 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 10).
  36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
  37. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  38. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
  39. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
  40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  41. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 3).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
  43. Clump analysis (Column 9): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 10, column 7).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  45. Row 10 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
  48. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
  49. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 7).
  50. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 5).
  51. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 3).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
  55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  56. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
  57. 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.