Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — October 22, 2026

Stuck on the October 22, 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 52

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 2).
  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 4, column 2).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 3).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  6. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in cols 1-3, eliminate 5 outside candidates (row 1, column 3).
  7. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 3).
  8. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 3).
  9. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  10. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
  11. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  12. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  13. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  14. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
  15. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  16. Row 4 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
  17. Column 5 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 5).
  18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 9).
  19. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
  20. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 7).
  21. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 8).
  22. 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 7).
  23. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
  24. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 7).
  25. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
  27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  28. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
  29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  30. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 9).
  31. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 7).
  32. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 4).
  33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  34. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
  35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  36. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 2).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
  40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  42. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 4).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
  45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  46. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 7).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
  48. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 9).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
  50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
  52. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

Rather solve it yourself?

This puzzle is free to play, along with a new hard Star Battle every day.

Play this puzzle More hard puzzles Sign up free
← Previous hard
All solutions
Next hard →

This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.