Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — July 24, 2026

Stuck on the July 24, 2026 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 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 55

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