Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — September 15, 2026

Stuck on the September 15, 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 55

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 5).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
  9. Squeeze (rows 4-5): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 6).
  10. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 6).
  11. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 6).
  12. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
  13. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  14. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 3).
  15. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 8).
  16. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 8).
  17. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 8).
  18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 7).
  19. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
  20. Two last candidates (column 7): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 9, column 8).
  21. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 8).
  22. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 8).
  23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  24. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  25. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  26. Clump analysis (Column 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
  27. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 2).
  28. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 1).
  29. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
  30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  32. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  33. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 5, column 3).
  34. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  35. Clump analysis (Column 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 7).
  36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
  37. Row 8 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 5).
  38. Clump analysis (Column 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 9).
  39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  42. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 5).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  44. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
  45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  46. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
  47. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  55. 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.