Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — July 28, 2026

Stuck on the July 28, 2026 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 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 63

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

Rather solve it yourself?

This puzzle is free to play, along with a new hard Star Battle every day.

Play this puzzle More hard puzzles Sign up free
← Previous hard
All solutions
Next hard →

This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.