Hard Star Battle answer — November 3, 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 8).
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 8, column 8).
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 8, column 5).
5. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
6. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
7. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 5).
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 8, column 9).
9. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
10. Clump analysis (Region 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 9).
11. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
12. Generalized counting (columns 8-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 3, column 9).
13. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - columns 8-9 can only hold 4 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 5 (row 3, column 8).
14. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 7).
15. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
16. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
17. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
18. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 2).
19. Squeeze (rows 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 2).
20. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
21. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
22. Crowding (Row 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 3).
23. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 4).
24. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
25. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 4).
26. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
27. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 1).
28. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
29. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 3).
30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
31. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
32. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 1).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
35. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 3).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
39. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 7).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
43. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 1).
44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
49. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
51. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 8).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
53. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
55. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.