Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — August 14, 2026

Stuck on the August 14, 2026 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 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. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 2).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 7).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 4).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 9).
  6. Undercounting: 2 regions fit in rows 9-10, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 9, column 1).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
  8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 5).
  9. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  10. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
  11. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
  12. Row 8 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 1).
  13. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 3).
  14. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
  15. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
  16. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  17. Column 3 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
  18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 6).
  19. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  20. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 4).
  21. Row 10 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 8).
  22. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 9, column 9).
  23. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 8).
  24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 10).
  25. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 1).
  26. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 1).
  27. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 2).
  28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  29. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
  31. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
  32. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 5).
  33. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 9).
  34. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 10).
  35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 10).
  36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
  38. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
  40. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
  41. Column 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
  42. Column 8 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  46. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  47. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
  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.