Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — July 14, 2026

Stuck on the July 14, 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 53

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