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