Expert Star Battle answer — September 6, 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 8, 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 4, column 8).
4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 3).
5. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
6. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
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 9, column 2).
8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 3).
9. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
10. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
11. Undercounting: 5 regions fit in rows 1-5, eliminate 6 outside candidates (row 4, column 6).
12. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 3).
13. Crowding (Column 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 5).
14. Squeeze (columns 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 6).
15. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 7).
16. Generalized counting (columns 1-2): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 1).
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 2, column 4).
18. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 1).
19. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 6).
20. Squeeze (rows 1-2): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 6).
21. Crowding (Column 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
22. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 8).
23. Squeeze (rows 2-3): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 3, column 7).
24. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 9).
25. Squeeze (rows 2-3): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 2, column 9).
26. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
27. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
28. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
30. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 6).
31. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 6).
32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
33. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
35. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 8).
36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
42. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
45. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 4).
46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
49. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
52. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
54. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.