Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — September 23, 2026

Stuck on the September 23, 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. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 2).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 8).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 8).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 8).
  7. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in rows 1-3, eliminate 6 outside candidates (row 2, column 5).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 2).
  10. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 3).
  11. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 1).
  12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 1).
  13. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  14. Crowding (Column 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 1).
  15. Crowding (Region 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
  16. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
  17. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  18. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
  19. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 1).
  20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 3).
  21. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
  23. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  24. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
  25. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
  26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
  27. Row 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 5).
  28. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 7).
  29. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
  30. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 8).
  31. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 9).
  32. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 6).
  33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
  34. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 6).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
  36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
  37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  38. Column 7 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  41. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 4).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  43. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
  46. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
  50. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 9).
  51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  52. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
  53. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  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.