Expert Star Battle answer — October 13, 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 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 3, column 4).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 5).
5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 2).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 2).
8. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
9. Star claim: Region 5 must place a star in column 6; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 5, column 5).
10. Undercounting: 5 regions fit in cols 1-5, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 7, column 4).
11. Crowding (Column 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 3).
12. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 2).
13. Squeeze (columns 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 4).
14. Squeeze (columns 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 2).
15. Crowding (Column 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 1).
16. Generalized counting (rows 1-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 4, column 7).
17. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 8).
18. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 3).
19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
20. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
21. Row 2 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 1).
22. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 1).
23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
24. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
25. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 8).
26. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 7).
27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
29. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
30. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
31. Column 7 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 7).
32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 2).
33. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
34. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 6).
35. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
36. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 4).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
42. Row 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 8).
43. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
46. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
49. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 8).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
51. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
53. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.