Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — December 18, 2025

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for December 18, 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 59

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 7, column 4).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 9).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 7).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
  8. Undercounting: 8 regions fit in rows 1-8, eliminate 2 outside candidates (row 8, column 2).
  9. Joint analysis (Region 3 + Region 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 4).
  10. Joint analysis (Region 5 + Region 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 9).
  11. Region dichotomy: Region 7 has only two ways to place its stars, and one of them fails (Region 6 would only have room for 1 of the 2 stars it still needs) - so its stars are R6C4 and R8C4 (row 6, column 4).
  12. Mark 10 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  13. Column 4 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  14. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 1).
  15. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 2).
  16. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 8, column 1).
  17. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
  18. Row 8 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 6).
  19. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 7, column 10).
  20. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  21. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 8).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  23. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 6).
  24. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 1).
  25. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 2).
  26. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
  27. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 7).
  28. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  29. Squeeze (columns 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 1).
  30. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 2).
  31. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 5).
  32. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 6).
  33. Clump analysis (Column 7): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 9, column 7).
  34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  35. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 6).
  36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  37. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  38. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 5).
  39. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 6).
  40. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 7).
  41. Region complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  42. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  43. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 2).
  44. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 2, column 9).
  45. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
  46. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 8).
  47. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
  48. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 10).
  49. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 9).
  50. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
  51. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 4, column 2).
  52. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 2).
  53. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 1).
  54. Column 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 3, column 3).
  55. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 1).
  56. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  57. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 3).
  58. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 3).
  59. 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.