Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — October 25, 2026

Stuck on the October 25, 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 61

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

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