Expert Star Battle answer — September 1, 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. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
3. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
4. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
5. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
6. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
7. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
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 3, column 2).
9. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in rows 1-4, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 4, column 6).
10. Composite container (columns 3-10): Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 16 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 2).
11. 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 5).
12. 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 6).
13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 5).
14. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
15. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 6).
16. 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 2).
17. 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 2).
18. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 9, column 2).
19. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 2).
20. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
21. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 2).
22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 1).
23. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 1).
24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
25. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
26. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
27. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 3).
28. Clump analysis (Row 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
30. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 1).
31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
32. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
33. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
35. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
36. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
37. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 7).
38. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 6).
39. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 4).
40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
42. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 10).
43. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
44. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
45. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 6).
46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
49. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 10, column 6).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 7).
51. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
52. Row 10 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 4).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
54. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 9).
55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 10).
56. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
58. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.