Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — October 10, 2026

Stuck on the October 10, 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 53

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 2, column 4).
  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 4, 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 4, column 9).
  5. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 9).
  6. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 8).
  8. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 9).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
  10. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 8).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  13. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  14. Undercounting: 5 regions fit in cols 5-9, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 2, column 5).
  15. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 7, column 5).
  16. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 5).
  17. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  18. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
  19. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
  20. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 6).
  21. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  22. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
  24. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 4).
  25. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  26. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
  27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  28. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 7, column 8).
  29. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 5, column 1).
  30. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 3).
  31. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  32. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
  33. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 8, column 2).
  34. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 8, column 3).
  35. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 3).
  36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
  37. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 2).
  38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  39. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
  40. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
  41. Two last candidates (row 8): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 9, column 8).
  42. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 8).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  44. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
  45. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  46. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  48. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 7).
  49. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  50. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 7).
  53. 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.