Expert Star Battle answer — October 11, 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 5, column 3).
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 6, column 3).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 4).
5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 1).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 1).
8. 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).
9. 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).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 9).
11. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 10).
12. 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 1).
13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 1).
14. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
15. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 2).
16. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
17. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
18. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
19. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
20. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
21. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 10).
22. Generalized counting (rows 1-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 10).
23. Generalized counting (rows 5-6): region star limits exclude these cells (row 6, column 6).
24. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 5).
25. Generalized counting (columns 9-10): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 9).
26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
28. Crowding (Region 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
29. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 2, column 3).
30. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
31. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
32. Clump analysis (Column 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 4).
33. Clump analysis (Column 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 7, column 5).
34. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
39. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 4).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
41. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 9, column 2).
42. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
43. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 8).
44. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 5).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
46. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 7).
47. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 1).
48. 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 9).
49. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 10).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 10).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 10).
53. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
54. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
55. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 8).
56. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 7).
57. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
58. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 3).
59. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
60. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
61. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
62. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 1).
63. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
64. Column 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 9).
65. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 10).
66. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.