Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — September 20, 2026

Stuck on the September 20, 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 45

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 2).
  3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 2).
  4. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  5. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 1).
  6. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
  7. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
  8. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  9. Row 5 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 5).
  10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 2).
  11. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
  12. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 6).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 1): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 7).
  14. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  15. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 5).
  16. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 6).
  17. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
  18. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  19. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 2).
  20. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 5).
  21. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 4).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  23. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  24. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 6).
  25. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  27. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  30. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  31. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
  32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
  33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
  35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
  36. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  37. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
  38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
  40. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  45. 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.