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