Inkwell Stars solution — January 3, 2026

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 8, column 8).
3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 9, column 9).
4. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
5. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 7).
6. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
7. Row 9 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
8. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 2).
9. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
10. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
11. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 8).
12. Composite container (columns 1-6): Regions 1, 2, 4, 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 3, column 5).
13. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 6).
14. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
15. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 5).
16. Crowding (Column 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
17. Crowding (Row 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
18. Crowding (Column 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
19. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 3).
20. Squeeze (columns 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 2).
21. Squeeze (columns 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 3).
22. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 1).
23. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
24. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 5).
25. Squeeze (columns 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 2).
26. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 3).
27. Crowding (Column 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
28. Row 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 2, column 7).
29. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 6).
30. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
31. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 8).
32. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
33. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 1, column 4).
34. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
35. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 8).
36. Two last candidates (column 4): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 4, column 5).
37. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 4).
38. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
39. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 3).
40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
41. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 5).
42. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
43. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 2).
44. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
45. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 2).
46. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
47. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 6).
48. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
49. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 9).
50. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 1).
51. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
52. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 6, column 9).
53. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
54. Row 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 7).
55. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 7).
56. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 8).
57. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
58. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.