Expert Star Battle answer — August 13, 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 3, column 1).
3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 2).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 1).
5. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 1).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 2).
8. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 3).
9. Generalized counting (rows 2-5): region star limits exclude these cells (row 6, column 5).
10. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
11. Composite container (columns 1-5): Regions 3, 4, 6 and 7 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 10 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 6, column 4).
12. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 2).
13. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
14. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
15. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
16. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 4).
17. Squeeze (columns 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 4).
18. Squeeze (columns 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 5).
19. Triple analysis (Row 4 + Row 3 + Region 9): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 8).
20. Quad analysis (Row 4 + Region 3 + Row 5 + Region 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 6).
21. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Column 6 would only have room for 1 of the 2 stars it still needs (row 2, column 4).
22. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 5).
23. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Row 8 would only have room for 1 of the 2 stars it still needs (row 4, column 9).
24. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Column 8 would only have room for 0 of the 1 star it still needs (row 1, column 6).
25. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - column 8 must hold 2 stars but the regions there could only supply 1 (row 1, column 7).
26. Clump analysis (Row 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
27. Two last candidates (row 2): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 3, column 7).
28. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - column 6 can only hold 2 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 3 (row 5, column 6).
29. Quad analysis (Row 2 + Region 2 + Column 6 + Column 5): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 8, column 6).
30. Joint analysis (Region 5 + Row 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 8).
31. Triple analysis (Row 5 + Column 8 + Column 7): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 6, column 6).
32. Composite container (columns 2-6): Regions 3 and 6 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 5 of the band's 10 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 8, column 5).
33. Quad analysis (Column 6 + Row 5 + Row 6 + Column 7): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 5, column 8).
34. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Row 8 would only have room for 1 of the 2 stars it still needs (row 1, column 5).
35. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 4).
36. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Row 8 would only have room for 1 of the 2 stars it still needs (row 2, column 7).
37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
39. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 3).
40. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
42. Column 4 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 4).
43. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 5, column 7).
44. Two last candidates (column 2): Eliminate 3 cells adjacent to both (row 8, column 1).
45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
47. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 2).
48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
50. Row 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 7).
51. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 8).
52. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 7).
53. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
56. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
57. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
58. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
60. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
61. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
62. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 7).
63. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
64. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
65. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
66. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
67. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
68. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.