Inkwell Stars solution — December 7, 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. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
3. Generalized counting (rows 1-5): region star limits exclude these cells (row 6, column 1).
4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
5. Composite container (rows 1-5): Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 10 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 4).
6. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 9).
7. Composite container (columns 1-8): Regions 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 16 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 7).
8. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
9. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 6).
10. Star claim: Region 7 must place a star in row 9; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 10, column 6).
11. Crowding (Row 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
12. Crowding (Row 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 3).
13. Crowding (Region 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 5).
14. Generalized counting (rows 9-10): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 9).
15. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 8).
16. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 8, column 9).
17. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
18. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 7).
19. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 4, column 10).
21. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 10).
22. Clump analysis (Region 3): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 3, column 8).
23. Star claim: Region 7 must place a star in column 5; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 8, column 4).
24. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
25. Generalized counting (rows 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 4, column 1).
26. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 3).
27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
28. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
29. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 1).
30. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 3).
31. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
32. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 5).
33. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
34. Column 3 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
35. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 2).
36. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
37. Clump analysis (Column 4): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 10, column 4).
38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
39. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 10, column 7).
40. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 8).
41. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
42. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 6).
43. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 1).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 1).
45. Column 8 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
46. Row 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 5, column 6).
47. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 5).
48. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 7).
49. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 5).
50. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
51. Two last candidates (column 2): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 1).
52. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 1).
53. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
54. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 6).
55. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 2).
56. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 4).
57. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 6).
58. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
59. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 4).
60. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
61. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 10).
62. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 9).
63. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 10).
64. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.