Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — October 21, 2026

Stuck on the October 21, 2026 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 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 55

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 6, column 9).
  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 6, column 10).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 10).
  5. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 9).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 10).
  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 5, column 7).
  9. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 7, column 7).
  10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 8).
  11. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  12. Row 7 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  13. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
  14. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  15. 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 2).
  16. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
  17. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 10).
  18. Column 10 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 10).
  19. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 7).
  20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  21. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
  22. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
  23. Row 3 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  24. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
  25. Row 5 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
  26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
  27. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
  28. Region confined to row: Eliminate other row candidates (row 1, column 1).
  29. Squeeze (rows 8-9): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 9).
  30. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
  31. Crowding (Row 1): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  32. Squeeze (rows 1-2): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 2).
  33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 5).
  34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
  36. Two last candidates (row 9): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 8, column 2).
  37. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 2).
  38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  39. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  41. Row 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 4).
  42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
  43. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  44. Row 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 1).
  45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 1).
  47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 3).
  48. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
  49. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 3).
  50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  53. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
  55. 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.