Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — September 12, 2026

Stuck on the September 12, 2026 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 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 61

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: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 9).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 10).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 10).
  5. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  6. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 2).
  7. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 10, column 2).
  8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 3).
  9. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
  10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 2).
  11. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 3).
  12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 2).
  13. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  14. Row 3 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 4).
  15. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 6).
  16. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
  17. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
  18. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  19. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
  20. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 1).
  21. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  22. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 4).
  23. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 4).
  24. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 3).
  25. Column 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
  26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
  28. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 2).
  29. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 6).
  30. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 7).
  31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
  32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
  33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  34. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 4).
  35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
  36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
  37. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
  39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  40. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  41. Row 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 7).
  42. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 5).
  43. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
  44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
  45. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 10).
  49. Column 10 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 10).
  50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  53. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 9).
  54. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 1).
  55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 1).
  56. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  57. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 7).
  58. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 6).
  59. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 6).
  60. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
  61. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

Rather solve it yourself?

This puzzle is free to play, along with a new hard Star Battle every day.

Play this puzzle More hard puzzles Sign up free
← Previous hard
All solutions
Next hard →

This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.