Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — July 9, 2026

Stuck on the July 9, 2026 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 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 50

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. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 2).
  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 9, column 6).
  5. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 7).
  6. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 4).
  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 8, column 2).
  9. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 3).
  10. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
  11. Undercounting: 2 regions fit in rows 8-9, eliminate 2 outside candidates (row 8, column 9).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 4): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 7, column 5).
  15. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
  16. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  17. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  19. Column 5 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
  20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 4).
  21. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  22. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 8).
  23. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 8).
  24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  25. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 7).
  26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
  27. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  28. Column 7 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
  29. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 6, column 2).
  30. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 3).
  31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
  32. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 1).
  33. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  34. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  35. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
  36. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 6).
  38. Column 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  39. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 4).
  40. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  44. Column 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
  48. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 6).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
  50. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

Rather solve it yourself?

This puzzle is free to play, along with a new hard Star Battle every day.

Play this puzzle More hard puzzles Sign up free
← Previous hard
All solutions
Next hard →

This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.