Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — August 1, 2026

Stuck on the August 1, 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 52

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 7, column 8).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 3).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 1).
  7. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 7).
  8. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 7).
  9. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 8).
  10. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 9).
  11. Crowding (Row 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 6).
  15. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 8).
  16. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
  17. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 6).
  19. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  20. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 2).
  21. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  22. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
  23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
  25. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  26. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
  27. Two last candidates (row 7): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 8, column 1).
  28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
  30. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
  31. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 5).
  32. Clump analysis (Row 9): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 7, column 2).
  33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  34. Column 2 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
  35. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 1).
  36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 1).
  38. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
  39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  40. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 3).
  41. Clump analysis (Row 1): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 2, column 9).
  42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
  43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
  44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
  45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
  50. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 3).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 3).
  52. 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.