Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — October 19, 2026

Stuck on the October 19, 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 49

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 3, column 6).
  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 1, 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 2, column 8).
  5. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 7).
  6. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  7. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 7).
  8. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  9. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
  10. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  11. Row 4 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
  12. Column 7 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 7).
  13. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
  14. Two last candidates (column 5): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 4).
  15. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
  16. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
  17. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
  18. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  19. Clump analysis (Region 8): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 1).
  20. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
  21. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 3).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
  23. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 2).
  24. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  25. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
  26. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 2).
  27. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 2).
  28. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 3).
  29. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
  30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
  32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  33. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 1).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 1).
  35. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 3).
  36. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
  39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  40. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 4).
  41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  44. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 4).
  45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  46. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  49. 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.