Medium 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. 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 2).
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 2, column 2).
4. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 8).
5. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
6. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 9).
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 2, column 7).
8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 8).
9. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
10. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 7).
11. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 8).
12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 7).
13. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
14. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
15. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
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 8, column 7).
17. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 3).
19. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 3).
21. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
22. Row 4 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 1).
24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
25. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 1).
26. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
27. Column 1 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
30. Column 3 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 3).
31. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 4).
33. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
34. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
36. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
38. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
40. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 6).
41. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 6).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
47. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 9).
48. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 8).
49. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
50. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 2).
54. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.