Medium Star Battle

Medium Star Battle answer — July 31, 2026

Stuck on the July 31, 2026 medium 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 43

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 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 6).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 7).
  5. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 5).
  7. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  8. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
  9. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
  10. Column 5 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
  11. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
  12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 2).
  13. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  14. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 7).
  15. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  16. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 9).
  17. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  18. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
  19. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  20. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 4).
  21. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  23. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
  25. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 1).
  26. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
  27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
  28. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
  29. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
  30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
  31. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 1).
  32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 3).
  33. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
  35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
  36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
  38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  39. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 1).
  40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  41. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 2).
  42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  43. 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.