Medium Star Battle

Medium Star Battle answer — October 26, 2026

Stuck on the October 26, 2026 medium 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 50

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 8).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
  5. 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 7).
  6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 8).
  7. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
  8. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 9).
  9. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 9).
  10. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
  11. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 7).
  12. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 8).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
  15. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
  16. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 8).
  17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 7).
  18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
  19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
  20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
  21. Row 7 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  22. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 4).
  23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
  25. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
  26. Row 5 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
  27. Column 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
  28. 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).
  29. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 2).
  30. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 1).
  31. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
  32. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
  33. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  35. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 1).
  36. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 1).
  37. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
  38. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
  39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  40. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
  41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  45. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  46. Row 2 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 3).
  47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
  48. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  49. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 7).
  50. 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.