Expert Star Battle answer — August 1, 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. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 4).
4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 4).
5. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
6. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in rows 7-9, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 7, column 1).
7. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
8. Clump analysis (Region 9): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 5).
9. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 3).
11. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
12. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
13. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
14. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
15. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
16. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 3).
17. Crowding (Row 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
18. Crowding (Column 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
19. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 6).
20. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 7).
21. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
22. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
23. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
24. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 9).
25. Joint analysis (Column 7 + Column 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 9).
26. Region confined to row: Eliminate other row candidates (row 1, column 1).
27. Region confined to row: Eliminate other row candidates (row 1, column 2).
28. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 1).
29. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 1).
30. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 2).
31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
33. Row 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 9).
34. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
38. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 9).
39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
42. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 7).
43. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 6).
47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
49. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 8).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
51. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
53. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.