Expert Star Battle answer — October 4, 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 4, column 7).
3. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
4. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
5. Joint analysis (Row 8 + Row 7): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 6, column 3).
6. Composite container (rows 7-8): Region 1 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 4 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 7, column 6).
7. Joint analysis (Region 3 + Region 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 4).
8. Triple analysis (Region 3 + Region 4 + Row 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 5, column 2).
9. Composite container (rows 5-8): Regions 1 and 5 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 6, column 8).
10. Triple analysis (Row 6 + Region 7 + Row 5): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 5, column 6).
11. Quad analysis (Column 4 + Region 3 + Region 7 + Column 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 4, column 2).
12. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 1).
13. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 6).
14. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
15. Triple analysis (Region 1 + Region 7 + Column 6): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 5).
16. Triple analysis (Region 2 + Region 3 + Row 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 4, column 5).
17. Triple analysis (Column 8 + Column 7 + Region 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 8).
18. Triple analysis (Column 8 + Row 2 + Column 7): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 1, column 2).
19. Joint analysis (Column 2 + Column 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 9, column 3).
20. Squeeze (rows 8-9): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 9, column 2).
21. Generalized counting (columns 2-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 3).
22. Triple analysis (Region 3 + Region 2 + Row 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 3).
23. Triple analysis (Region 3 + Region 6 + Row 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 1, column 1).
24. Quad analysis (Region 2 + Column 8 + Region 5 + Region 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 9).
25. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 7).
26. Composite container (columns 6-8): Region 2 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 6 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 9).
27. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 8).
28. Joint analysis (Region 3 + Row 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 6).
29. Joint analysis (Row 6 + Row 7): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 8, column 6).
30. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 8).
31. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 9).
32. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
33. Clump analysis (Column 6): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 6).
34. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
36. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
37. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 1).
38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
43. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 3).
44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
45. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 7).
49. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
50. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 1).
51. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
54. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
56. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
57. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
58. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
59. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
60. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
61. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.