Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — October 5, 2026

Stuck on the October 5, 2026 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 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 52

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 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 6).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
  6. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 8).
  7. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 9).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
  9. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 8).
  10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 9).
  11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 9).
  12. Undercounting: 2 regions fit in cols 8-9, eliminate 2 outside candidates (row 1, column 8).
  13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 7).
  14. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  15. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
  16. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  17. Column 7 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 7).
  18. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 8).
  19. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  20. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
  21. Row 3 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  22. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
  23. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  24. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 5).
  25. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  26. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
  27. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
  28. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 3).
  29. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 3).
  30. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 2).
  31. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
  33. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  34. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
  35. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  37. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  38. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  39. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
  40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
  41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
  42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
  46. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 4).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  50. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
  52. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

Rather solve it yourself?

This puzzle is free to play, along with a new hard Star Battle every day.

Play this puzzle More hard puzzles Sign up free
← Previous hard
All solutions

This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.