Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — August 20, 2026

Stuck on the August 20, 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 56

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. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 1).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 9).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
  7. Undercounting: 7 regions fit in cols 4-10, eliminate 5 outside candidates (row 2, column 4).
  8. Squeeze (columns 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 6).
  9. Crowding (Column 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 6).
  11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 6).
  12. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
  13. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 8).
  14. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 8).
  15. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
  16. Row 3 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  17. Clump analysis (Region 7): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 10).
  18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
  20. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  21. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
  22. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  23. Row 5 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
  24. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  25. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  28. Row 4 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
  29. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  30. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
  32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
  33. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 6).
  34. Column 8 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 8).
  35. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 7).
  36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 7).
  38. Row 7 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 2).
  39. Row 9 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
  40. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 2).
  41. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 1).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 2).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 3).
  44. Row 10 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 9).
  45. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 9).
  46. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 10).
  47. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  48. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
  51. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  53. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
  54. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 10).
  56. 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.