Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — October 31, 2026

Stuck on the October 31, 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 59

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 9, column 1).
  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 9, column 2).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 1).
  5. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  6. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 9, column 3).
  7. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 9, column 4).
  8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 4).
  9. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  10. Row 8 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 6).
  11. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 7).
  12. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 7).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
  14. 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 10).
  15. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  16. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
  17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 9).
  18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 10).
  19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  20. Column 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  21. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 10).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
  23. Column 10 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 10).
  24. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 9, column 7).
  25. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 6).
  26. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 5).
  27. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 8).
  29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
  30. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
  31. Row 5 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
  32. 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 7).
  33. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  34. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
  35. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 2).
  36. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 1).
  37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
  38. Region complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 3).
  39. Column 1 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 2).
  41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 3).
  42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 4).
  43. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 2).
  44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
  45. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  46. Column 2 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
  47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
  48. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  49. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 2, column 8).
  50. Two last candidates (row 2): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 5).
  51. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
  53. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 7).
  54. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  55. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
  56. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  57. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
  58. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
  59. 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.