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