Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — July 7, 2026

Stuck on the July 7, 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 60

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 8, column 7).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 3).
  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 8).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
  6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 8).
  7. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  8. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 10, column 7).
  9. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 10, column 8).
  10. Clump analysis (Region 2): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 9).
  11. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
  14. Undercounting: 5 regions fit in cols 6-10, eliminate 6 outside candidates (row 1, column 6).
  15. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 6).
  16. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 6).
  17. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
  18. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
  19. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  20. Row 5 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
  21. Row 7 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  22. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 1, column 4).
  23. 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 4).
  24. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 3).
  25. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  26. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 1).
  27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  28. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 1).
  29. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 1).
  30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  31. Column 1 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
  32. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 3).
  33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  34. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
  35. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 3).
  36. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
  37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
  38. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  39. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
  41. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
  42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  46. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 10).
  47. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 10).
  48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 10).
  49. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
  50. Column 4 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 4).
  51. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 10).
  53. Two last candidates (row 8): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 9, column 2).
  54. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 5).
  56. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
  57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  58. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 10, column 2).
  59. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 3).
  60. 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.