Inkwell Stars solution — November 27, 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: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 4).
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 3, column 4).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 5).
5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 2).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 2).
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 9, column 2).
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 10, column 2).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 3).
11. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
12. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 3).
13. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
14. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 4).
15. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
16. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 5).
17. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
18. Row 10 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
21. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
22. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
23. Clump analysis (Column 1): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 2).
24. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
25. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 2).
26. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 7).
27. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 7).
28. Crowding (Region 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
29. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
31. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 4).
32. Crowding (Row 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
33. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 9).
34. Squeeze (rows 6-7): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 10).
35. Squeeze (columns 6-7): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 7).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
37. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 6).
38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
40. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 10).
41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 6).
48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
49. Two last candidates (column 8): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 9).
50. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
52. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
53. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 8).
54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 10).
55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 1).
56. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
57. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 1).
58. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 3).
59. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 3).
60. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.