Hard Star Battle answer — July 22, 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: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 7).
3. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
5. Star claim: Region 5 must place a star in row 7; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 6, column 7).
6. Composite container (columns 1-5): Regions 1, 2, 3 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 10 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 5).
7. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 5).
8. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
9. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 6).
11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 6).
12. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
13. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 2).
14. Two last candidates (row 6): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 5, column 2).
15. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
16. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
17. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 8).
18. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 6).
19. Crowding (Column 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
20. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 8).
21. Generalized counting (rows 9-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 1).
22. Generalized counting (rows 8-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 8, column 1).
23. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
24. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
25. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
26. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
28. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
29. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 2).
30. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
32. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
33. Column 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
34. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 6).
35. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 5).
36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
38. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
39. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 2).
40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
43. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
44. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
45. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 4).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
49. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
50. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
52. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
54. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.