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