Expert Star Battle answer — October 28, 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 6, column 7).
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 8).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 8).
5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 7).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 8).
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 2, column 2).
9. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 4).
10. Undercounting: 5 regions fit in cols 1-5, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 1, column 5).
11. Composite container (rows 3-9): Regions 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 14 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 2).
12. Crowding (Row 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
13. Generalized counting (columns 1-1): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 1).
14. Composite container (columns 2-5): Regions 2, 3 and 4 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 2, column 3).
15. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Region 4 would only have room for 1 of the 2 stars it still needs (row 5, column 6).
16. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 5).
17. Squeeze (rows 5-6): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 6).
18. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
21. Column 8 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
22. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
23. Clump analysis (Region 6): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 9, column 9).
24. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 9).
25. Crowding (Column 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 6).
26. Squeeze (rows 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 6).
27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
28. Two last candidates (row 5): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 6, column 2).
29. Crowding (Column 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
30. Crowding (Row 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 9, column 3).
31. Crowding (Column 3): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
32. Squeeze (rows 3-4): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 5).
33. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 4).
34. Two last candidates (row 7): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 6, column 1).
35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 1).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
43. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 5).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
48. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
50. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
52. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
53. Row 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 4).
54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
56. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
57. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.