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