Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — August 17, 2026

Stuck on the August 17, 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 3, column 4).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 5).
  4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 6).
  5. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 5).
  6. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 5).
  8. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 6).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 4).
  10. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
  11. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 9).
  13. Undercounting: 5 regions fit in rows 6-10, eliminate 7 outside candidates (row 6, column 1).
  14. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
  15. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  16. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 7, column 2).
  17. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 1).
  18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
  19. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  21. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 2).
  22. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 9).
  23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
  24. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
  25. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 1).
  26. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
  28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
  29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
  30. Two last candidates (column 4): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 3, column 3).
  31. Crowding (Row 3): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
  32. Generalized counting (columns 8-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 2, column 6).
  33. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
  34. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 7).
  35. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 7).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 6).
  38. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
  40. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
  42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
  43. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
  45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
  46. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 1).
  49. Row 4 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 8).
  50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
  51. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 8).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
  53. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  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.