Inkwell Stars solution — November 16, 2025

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: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 3).
3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 7).
4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 5).
5. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
6. Composite container (columns 1-7): Regions 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 14 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 1, column 6).
7. Joint analysis (Region 4 + Column 5): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 1).
8. Joint analysis (Region 5 + Column 5): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 8).
9. Joint analysis (Region 4 + Region 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 5).
10. Joint analysis (Row 3 + Region 5): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 3).
11. Joint analysis (Region 8 + Column 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 8, column 4).
12. Joint analysis (Region 5 + Region 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 6).
13. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
14. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 7).
15. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
16. Squeeze (rows 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 7).
17. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
18. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 7).
19. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 9).
20. Lookahead: This cell must be a star - eliminating it leads to contradiction (Region 4 would only have room for 0 of the 1 star it still needs) (row 3, column 4).
21. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
22. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
23. Generalized counting (columns 4-5): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 4).
24. Squeeze (columns 5-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 6).
25. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 1, column 5).
26. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 2, column 7).
27. Two last candidates (column 4): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 6, column 3).
28. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
29. Star claim: Region 7 must place a star in column 3; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 8, column 2).
30. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 3).
31. Composite container (rows 6-8): Region 8 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 6 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 7, column 2).
32. Joint analysis (Row 8 + Row 9): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 9, column 2).
33. Composite container (columns 2-7): Regions 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 12 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 2).
34. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 1).
35. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - stars at R2C1 and R3C2 would touch (row 1, column 9).
36. Joint analysis (Region 6 + Column 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 5, column 1).
37. Composite container (rows 5-8): Regions 2 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 5 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 6, column 2).
38. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
39. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 9).
40. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
41. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 2).
42. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
43. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
44. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 9).
45. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 7).
46. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 7).
47. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
48. Clump analysis (Column 6): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 9, column 6).
49. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
50. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 1).
51. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
52. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 1).
53. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
54. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 8).
55. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
56. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 8).
57. Row 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 6).
58. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 4).
59. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
60. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 3).
61. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 6).
62. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 2).
63. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
64. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 3).
65. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
66. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 5).
67. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.