Hard Star Battle answer — July 15, 2026

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 2).
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 5).
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 4, column 6).
5. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 5).
6. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 5).
8. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 6).
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 5, column 2).
10. Crowding (Region 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
11. Crowding (Column 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
12. Undercounting: 7 regions fit in rows 1-7, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 7, column 6).
13. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 6).
14. Crowding (Column 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
15. Squeeze (columns 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 8).
16. Generalized counting (columns 1-1): region star limits exclude these cells (row 8, column 1).
17. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
18. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
19. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
20. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
21. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
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 8, column 3).
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 9, column 3).
24. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 4).
25. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 9).
26. Crowding (Row 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
27. Crowding (Row 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 9, column 8).
28. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 8).
29. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 6).
30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
31. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 7).
32. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
33. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 1).
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 1, column 2).
35. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 3).
36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
38. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
40. Row 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 8).
41. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 8).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
46. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
48. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 1).
49. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 7).
50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 9).
51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
52. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 3).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
56. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
58. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.