Medium Star Battle

Medium Star Battle answer — November 8, 2026

Stuck on the November 8, 2026 medium 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 51

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. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 9).
  4. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
  5. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 6).
  6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 6).
  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 1, column 6).
  8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 7).
  9. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  10. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
  11. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
  12. Column 7 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 7).
  13. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 4).
  14. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 4).
  15. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
  16. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
  17. Clump analysis (Region 9): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 6).
  18. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
  19. 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).
  20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 4).
  21. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
  23. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  24. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 4).
  25. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  26. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
  27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
  28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
  29. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
  30. Column 4 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 4).
  31. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 6).
  32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
  33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
  34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
  35. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 6).
  36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  37. 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).
  38. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 2, column 1).
  39. Two last candidates (row 7): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 8, column 1).
  40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
  41. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
  42. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 1).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
  44. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
  47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  49. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 2).
  50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  51. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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All solutions

This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.