Expert Star Battle answer — July 20, 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. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
3. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 2).
5. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
6. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in cols 1-3, eliminate 5 outside candidates (row 1, column 3).
7. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 1, column 5).
8. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
9. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
10. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
11. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 5).
12. Crowding (Column 3): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
13. Squeeze (columns 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 1).
14. Generalized counting (rows 1-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 9).
15. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 8).
16. Generalized counting (columns 4-6): region star limits exclude these cells (row 7, column 6).
17. Composite container (rows 6-9): Regions 6, 7 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 5, column 7).
18. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 4).
19. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 4).
21. Composite container (columns 7-9): Regions 3 and 6 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 6 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 6).
22. Crowding (Row 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
23. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 8).
24. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 9).
25. Crowding (Row 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 3, column 7).
26. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 7).
27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
28. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 5).
29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
31. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 6).
32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 5).
33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
34. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
35. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 5).
37. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
39. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 7, column 3).
40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
41. Row 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
42. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 8).
43. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 9).
44. Row 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
45. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 2).
46. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 3).
47. Row 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
49. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 3).
50. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 1).
51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
53. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 1).
54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
56. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
57. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
58. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
59. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
60. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
61. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
62. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.