Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — November 8, 2026

Stuck on the November 8, 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 5, column 2).
  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 5, column 3).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 3).
  5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 2).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 3).
  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 2, column 8).
  9. 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 9).
  10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 8).
  11. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 4).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
  14. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
  15. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  16. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 2, column 5).
  17. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 5, column 5).
  18. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
  19. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  20. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  21. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
  22. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
  23. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  24. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 8).
  25. Squeeze (columns 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 6).
  26. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in cols 7-9, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 7, column 7).
  27. Squeeze (rows 6-7): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 7, column 9).
  28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  29. Crowding (Row 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 9, column 2).
  30. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 2).
  31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
  32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
  34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
  36. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 5).
  37. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
  39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
  40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
  41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  44. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 6).
  45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
  47. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 7).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
  50. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
  52. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 9).
  53. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  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.