Expert Star Battle answer — November 6, 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 8, column 7).
3. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 1).
4. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
5. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 4).
6. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 2).
7. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 1).
8. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
9. Row 8 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 6).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 6).
11. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
12. Two last candidates (row 7): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 6, column 8).
13. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 1).
14. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
15. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 2).
16. Squeeze (columns 4-5): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 9, column 5).
17. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
18. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 9).
19. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 8).
20. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
21. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 4, column 7).
22. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 7).
23. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
24. Composite container (columns 2-5): Region 1 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 3).
25. Joint analysis (Region 9 + Row 6): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 1, column 1).
26. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 2).
27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
30. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
33. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 1).
34. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 2).
35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
39. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
41. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 6).
42. 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 4).
43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
46. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
47. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
49. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 7).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
51. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.