Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — November 14, 2025

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for November 14, 2025 — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Step through it below.

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Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 58

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. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 2).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 9).
  5. Undercounting: 2 regions fit in rows 9-10, eliminate 6 outside candidates (row 9, column 1).
  6. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 4).
  7. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  8. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 7).
  9. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
  10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 8).
  11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 8, column 9).
  12. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  13. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 9).
  14. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
  15. Column 9 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  16. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 10).
  17. Two last candidates (row 8): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 7, column 1).
  18. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
  19. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
  20. Clump analysis (Column 10): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 8).
  21. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  22. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
  23. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  24. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
  25. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 2).
  26. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  27. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 6).
  28. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 5).
  29. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 4).
  30. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 2).
  31. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
  32. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 2).
  33. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 2).
  34. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 4, column 3).
  35. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  36. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 3).
  37. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  38. Row 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
  39. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 3).
  40. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 4).
  41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  42. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 6).
  43. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 6).
  44. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 10).
  45. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 10).
  46. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 10).
  47. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 5).
  48. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  49. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 5).
  50. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  51. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 7).
  52. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 7).
  53. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 1).
  54. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  55. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 1).
  56. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 8).
  57. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 8).
  58. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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This is an independent, logic-based walkthrough created by TryHard Puzzles to teach Star Battle solving technique. TryHard Puzzles is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Inkwell Games.