Expert Star Battle answer — September 25, 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: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 8).
3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 6).
4. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
5. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
6. Joint analysis (Row 8 + Region 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 6).
7. Joint analysis (Region 9 + Row 9): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 9, column 5).
8. Triple analysis (Region 5 + Column 6 + Region 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 4, column 5).
9. Triple analysis (Column 5 + Column 6 + Region 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 6, column 7).
10. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Row 8 would only have room for 1 of the 2 stars it still needs (row 3, column 2).
11. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Row 7 would only have room for 0 of the 1 star it still needs (row 3, column 4).
12. Joint analysis (Region 2 + Region 6): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 5, column 3).
13. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Row 8 would only have room for 1 of the 2 stars it still needs (row 2, column 2).
14. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Region 2 would only have room for 0 of the 1 star it still needs (row 3, column 7).
15. Composite container (columns 1-7): Regions 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 14 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 7, column 8).
16. Joint analysis (Row 8 + Row 9): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 9, column 8).
17. Deep lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - stars at R5C6 and R6C6 would touch (row 1, column 5).
18. Generalized counting (columns 5-7): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 4).
19. Triple analysis (Column 6 + Column 7 + Row 5): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 6, column 8).
20. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
21. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 5).
22. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 6).
23. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 6).
24. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
25. Generalized counting (rows 1-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 2).
26. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 3).
27. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 3).
28. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 2).
29. Squeeze (columns 2-3): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 3).
30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
31. Squeeze (columns 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 4).
32. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 8).
33. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 7).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
37. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 8).
38. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 8).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
40. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
42. Column 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
45. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 4).
46. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 3).
47. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 2).
48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 9).
52. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
53. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 5).
54. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 7).
55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
56. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 2).
57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 2).
58. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
60. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
61. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
62. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
63. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 6).
64. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
65. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
66. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.