Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — September 27, 2026

Stuck on the September 27, 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 62

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 8, column 3).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 8).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 4).
  8. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in cols 1-4, eliminate 8 outside candidates (row 1, column 1).
  9. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 1, column 6).
  10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 7).
  11. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
  12. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 10).
  13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 10).
  14. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  15. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
  16. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  17. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  18. Two last candidates (row 2): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 3, column 2).
  19. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
  20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 4).
  21. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  22. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
  23. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
  24. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  25. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 3).
  26. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 3).
  27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
  28. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 1).
  29. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 4, column 1).
  30. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 1).
  31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
  32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
  34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
  36. Row 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 7).
  37. Squeeze (rows 9-10): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 9).
  38. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 7).
  39. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 7).
  40. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 9).
  41. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
  42. Composite container (columns 5-8): Regions 1 and 2 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 7).
  43. Two last candidates (column 7): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 9, column 6).
  44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
  45. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 7).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 6).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 5).
  49. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 5).
  50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  51. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 7).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  54. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 6).
  55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
  56. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  57. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
  58. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 10).
  59. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
  60. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
  61. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 10).
  62. 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.