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