Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — August 4, 2026

Stuck on the August 4, 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 51

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 3, column 6).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 6).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 8).
  8. Undercounting: 6 regions fit in rows 1-6, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 6, column 1).
  9. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 5).
  10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 5).
  11. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 7).
  13. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  14. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
  15. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  16. Row 4 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
  17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 9).
  18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  19. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 4).
  20. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  21. Two last candidates (row 2): Eliminate 4 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 1).
  22. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 3).
  23. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  24. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
  25. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
  26. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
  27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  28. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
  29. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
  30. Clump analysis (Column 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
  31. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
  32. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
  33. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 7).
  34. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
  35. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
  36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
  37. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 7, column 2).
  38. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 1).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
  41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
  42. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
  43. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 2).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
  47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
  48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  49. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 6).
  50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
  51. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

Rather solve it yourself?

This puzzle is free to play, along with a new hard Star Battle every day.

Play this puzzle More hard puzzles Sign up free
← Previous hard
All solutions
Next hard →

This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.