Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — July 19, 2026

Stuck on the July 19, 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 58

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: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 5).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 4).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 2): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 2).
  7. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 7).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 9).
  10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 7).
  11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 6).
  12. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
  13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 4).
  14. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  15. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 4).
  16. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
  17. Column 4 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  18. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  19. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  20. Row 7 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  21. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
  22. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  23. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 1).
  24. Row 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 10).
  25. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 2).
  26. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 2).
  27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  28. Column 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 3).
  29. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 7).
  30. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 9).
  31. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 10).
  32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 10).
  33. Two last candidates (column 2): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 9, column 1).
  34. Clump analysis (Column 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 6).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
  36. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
  38. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 1).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
  40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  41. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 2).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 2).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 5).
  45. Column 8 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 8).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 7).
  47. Two last candidates (column 7): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 3, column 6).
  48. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
  49. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 9).
  50. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 10).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 10).
  52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  54. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  56. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
  57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 10).
  58. 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.