Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — July 30, 2026

Stuck on the July 30, 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 58

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 9).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 9).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
  5. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 1).
  6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 1).
  7. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  8. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 2).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 2).
  10. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 9).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 4).
  12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 4).
  13. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 3).
  15. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 9).
  16. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
  17. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in cols 8-10, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 7, column 8).
  18. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
  19. Generalized counting (rows 9-10): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 7).
  20. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
  21. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 6).
  22. Clump analysis (Column 7): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 7).
  23. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  24. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 4, column 8).
  25. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 8).
  26. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  27. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
  28. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 10).
  29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 10).
  30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 10).
  31. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 4).
  32. Squeeze (columns 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 2).
  33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
  34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  36. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 10).
  38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
  39. Column 10 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 10).
  40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
  41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  42. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
  44. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 5).
  45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 4).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 3).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 2).
  48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
  49. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
  50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 9).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  52. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
  55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
  56. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
  57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
  58. 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.