Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — July 4, 2026

Stuck on the July 4, 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 59

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 9, column 6).
  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 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 2, column 7).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
  6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 7).
  7. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  9. Undercounting: 6 regions fit in cols 5-10, eliminate 7 outside candidates (row 1, column 5).
  10. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 5).
  11. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 5).
  12. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
  13. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  14. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  15. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 6).
  16. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  17. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
  18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  19. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 4).
  20. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  21. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 2).
  22. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
  24. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
  25. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
  26. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
  27. Row 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 9).
  28. Row 5 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 8).
  29. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 4).
  30. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 8).
  31. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 8).
  32. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 8).
  33. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 7).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
  35. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 7).
  36. Row 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
  37. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 7).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
  39. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  40. Row 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  41. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  43. Row 1 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 10).
  45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 3).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 2).
  47. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 9).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
  49. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
  50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 10).
  51. Row 10 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 10, column 1).
  52. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 1).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
  56. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 10).
  57. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 1).
  58. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
  59. 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.