Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — August 9, 2026

Stuck on the August 9, 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 55

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 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 9).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 7): 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 8, column 9).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
  7. Undercounting: 2 regions fit in rows 8-9, eliminate 2 outside candidates (row 8, column 3).
  8. Crowding (Row 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 9, column 7).
  9. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 4).
  10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 6).
  11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 7).
  12. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  15. Undercounting: 6 regions fit in cols 4-9, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 7, column 4).
  16. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 2).
  17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 3).
  18. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
  19. Clump analysis (Column 4): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 4).
  20. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  21. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 5).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 5).
  23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  24. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
  25. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
  26. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
  27. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 8).
  28. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 8).
  29. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 8).
  30. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 9).
  31. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 9).
  32. Row 3 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
  34. Column 7 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
  35. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 1).
  36. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
  38. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
  40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  42. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 3).
  43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  45. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
  47. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 1).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
  49. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
  50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
  53. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 1).
  54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
  55. 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.