Expert Star Battle answer — October 17, 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 1, 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 2, column 4).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 3).
5. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 6).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 6).
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 8, column 2).
9. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
10. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
11. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 8).
12. Generalized counting (columns 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 2).
13. Composite container (columns 6-9): Regions 3, 5 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 8, column 7).
14. Generalized counting (columns 8-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 8).
15. Crowding (Column 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
16. Composite container (columns 4-7): Regions 1, 3, 4 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 1 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 4).
17. Joint analysis (Row 5 + Region 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 6, column 5).
18. Joint analysis (Region 7 + Column 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 6, column 1).
19. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
20. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 4).
21. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 4).
22. Squeeze (rows 8-9): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 5).
23. Crowding (Row 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
24. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
25. Clump analysis (Column 8): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 9, column 8).
26. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
27. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 3).
28. Squeeze (rows 6-7): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 4).
29. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
30. Crowding (Row 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 7).
31. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 2).
32. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 2).
33. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
44. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 1).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
46. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
48. Column 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 6).
49. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
51. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 7).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
54. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
56. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
57. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 9).
58. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
59. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.