Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — October 2, 2026

Stuck on the October 2, 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 60

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 9, column 2).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 10, column 2).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 4).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
  7. Undercounting: 6 regions fit in rows 5-10, eliminate 8 outside candidates (row 5, column 4).
  8. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 3).
  9. Star claim: Region 1 must place a star in row 4; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 5, column 3).
  10. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 1).
  11. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 8).
  12. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
  14. Star claim: Region 10 must place a star in column 1; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 2, column 2).
  15. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 2).
  16. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  17. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 3).
  18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  21. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 6).
  22. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
  23. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
  24. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  25. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
  26. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  27. Two last candidates (column 4): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 8, column 5).
  28. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 5).
  29. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
  30. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 7).
  31. Two last candidates (column 5): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 2, column 6).
  32. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 1, column 8).
  33. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 7).
  34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
  36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 10).
  37. Row 2 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 1).
  38. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  39. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 1).
  41. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 4, column 10).
  42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  43. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 6).
  44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
  45. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  47. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 10).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  50. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 1).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 1).
  52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 3).
  54. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 7).
  55. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 8).
  56. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 9).
  57. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 10).
  58. Column 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 9).
  59. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
  60. 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.