Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — July 29, 2026

Stuck on the July 29, 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 56

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 2, column 2).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 3).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 9).
  6. Crowding (Region 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
  7. Undercounting: 2 regions fit in cols 8-9, eliminate 2 outside candidates (row 5, column 8).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 6).
  9. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 5).
  10. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  11. Crowding (Row 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 4, column 2).
  12. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 7).
  13. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  14. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 5, column 2).
  15. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 1).
  16. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  17. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
  18. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  19. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
  20. Two last candidates (row 6): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 7, column 8).
  21. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
  22. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
  23. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
  24. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
  25. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  26. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 8).
  27. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 9).
  28. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 9).
  29. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
  30. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  31. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 3).
  32. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 2).
  33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
  34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
  35. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
  36. Clump analysis (Region 2): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 8, column 1).
  37. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  40. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  42. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 3).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
  44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  45. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
  48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
  51. Column 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 7).
  52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  54. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
  56. 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.