Expert Star Battle answer — August 15, 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 7, column 6).
3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 8).
4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
5. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 5).
6. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
7. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 2).
8. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in rows 1-4, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 4, column 3).
9. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
10. Clump analysis (Row 4): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 1).
11. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
12. Crowding (Row 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
13. Crowding (Column 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
14. Composite container (rows 3-4): Region 8 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 2, column 9).
15. Joint analysis (Row 5 + Row 6): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 4).
16. Composite container (rows 7-9): Regions 1 and 5 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 6 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 8, column 8).
17. Joint analysis (Region 3 + Row 5): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 6, column 4).
18. Joint analysis (Region 3 + Row 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 7).
19. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
20. Joint analysis (Region 8 + Column 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 3).
21. Joint analysis (Region 6 + Row 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 1, column 5).
22. Joint analysis (Column 5 + Column 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 6, column 6).
23. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 7).
24. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
25. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 9).
26. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 9).
27. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 8).
28. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
31. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
32. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
40. Column 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
43. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 1, column 3).
44. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 2, column 4).
45. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 4).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
47. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
48. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 6).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
54. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
56. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 4).
57. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
58. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.