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