Expert Star Battle answer — August 14, 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. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
4. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
5. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 3).
6. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 6).
7. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in rows 7-9, eliminate 5 outside candidates (row 7, column 1).
8. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 2).
9. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 2).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 3).
11. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
12. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 7).
13. Clump analysis (Row 7): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 7, column 5).
14. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
15. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 2).
16. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 2).
17. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
18. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 7).
20. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
21. Squeeze (columns 3-4): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 9, column 4).
22. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
23. Composite container (rows 5-6): Region 3 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 4, column 6).
24. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 5).
25. Composite container (columns 1-4): Regions 3 and 5 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 3).
26. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Region 1 would only have room for 1 of the 2 stars it still needs (row 1, column 4).
27. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 1, column 2).
28. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 2).
29. Two last candidates (column 2): Eliminate 3 cells adjacent to both (row 3, column 1).
30. Two last candidates (column 4): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 3, column 5).
31. Squeeze (rows 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 6).
32. Crowding (Row 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
33. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
36. Row 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 9).
37. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 8).
38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
39. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
40. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
44. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 6).
45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
47. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 5, column 8).
48. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 8).
49. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
51. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
53. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
56. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
57. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
58. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
59. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.