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