Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — August 27, 2026

Stuck on the August 27, 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 52

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 2, column 8).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 4).
  5. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in rows 1-4, eliminate 5 outside candidates (row 3, column 6).
  6. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 5, column 8).
  7. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 6, column 8).
  8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 7).
  9. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  10. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
  11. Clump analysis (Column 8): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 8).
  12. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  14. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 3, column 2).
  15. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
  16. Crowding (Column 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 5).
  17. Crowding (Row 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
  18. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 5).
  19. Crowding (Row 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  20. Squeeze (rows 8-9): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 1).
  21. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 1).
  22. Squeeze (rows 2-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 1).
  23. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
  24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
  25. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  26. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
  27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
  28. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 6).
  29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
  30. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
  31. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
  32. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
  33. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 3).
  34. Two last candidates (column 2): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 7, column 3).
  35. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 4).
  36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
  37. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 8).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
  39. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
  41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  42. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 1).
  43. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 2).
  44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 9).
  45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  46. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 4).
  47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
  48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
  50. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 9).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
  52. 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.