Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — October 1, 2026

Stuck on the October 1, 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 58

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