Expert Star Battle answer — August 26, 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: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 4, column 9).
3. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 4, column 10).
4. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
5. Composite container (columns 1-5): Regions 3, 4, 6 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 10 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 4).
6. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 2).
7. Composite container (columns 1-4): Regions 6 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 1, column 3).
8. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 7, column 4).
9. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
10. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 6).
11. Crowding (Row 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
12. Generalized counting (columns 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 3, column 4).
13. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 1).
14. Generalized counting (rows 1-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 4).
15. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 2).
16. Crowding (Row 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
17. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 9).
18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 10).
19. Generalized counting (columns 8-10): region star limits exclude these cells (row 7, column 9).
20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 5).
21. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 9).
22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 10).
23. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 9).
24. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 10).
25. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
26. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 10).
27. Column 10 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 10).
28. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 6).
29. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
30. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
31. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
36. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 4).
37. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 6).
38. Two last candidates (column 6): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 6, column 5).
39. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
40. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 2).
41. Generalized counting (rows 9-10): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 3).
42. Composite container (rows 5-7): Region 7 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 6 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 6, column 6).
43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
44. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 8).
45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 7).
50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
51. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
52. Row 10 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 10, column 3).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
56. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
57. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
58. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
59. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
60. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 1).
61. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
62. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.