Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — August 19, 2026

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