Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — November 6, 2026

Stuck on the November 6, 2026 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 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 55

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 3, column 5).
  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 2).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 8).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  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 4, column 5).
  9. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 4).
  10. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  11. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 7).
  12. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 7).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
  14. Generalized counting (rows 1-2): region star limits exclude these cells (row 2, column 9).
  15. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  16. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  17. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  18. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 4, column 8).
  19. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 5, column 1).
  20. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
  21. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 9).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
  23. Star claim: Region 1 must place a star in row 6; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 6, column 6).
  24. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 1).
  25. Squeeze (rows 5-6): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 7).
  26. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  27. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
  28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  29. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  30. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
  31. Column 4 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  32. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 5).
  33. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  34. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 7).
  35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  37. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 1).
  38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
  39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
  40. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
  43. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 1).
  44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
  45. Column 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
  51. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  53. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
  55. 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.