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