Hard Star Battle answer — October 9, 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: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 3, column 5).
3. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 8).
4. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 9).
5. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
6. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
7. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 9).
8. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
9. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
10. Column 9 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 9).
11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 5).
12. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
13. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
14. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
15. Column 5 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 5).
16. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
17. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
18. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
19. Crowding (Row 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
20. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 2).
21. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
22. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
23. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 2).
24. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
25. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
26. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
29. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 6).
30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
32. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
33. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 1).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
38. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
39. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
46. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 1).
47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
48. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.