Inkwell Stars solution — January 9, 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. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
3. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in rows 6-9, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 6, column 2).
4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
5. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
6. 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 8).
7. Crowding (Row 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
8. Undercounting: 6 regions fit in rows 4-9, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 4, column 1).
9. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 2).
10. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
11. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
12. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
13. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
14. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
15. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 1).
16. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
17. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
18. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
20. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 1, column 2).
21. 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 2).
22. 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 9).
23. Two last candidates (column 2): Eliminate 4 cells adjacent to both (row 8, column 1).
24. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 4).
25. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
26. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
27. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 3).
28. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
31. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 6).
32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
33. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 5).
34. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 5).
35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
36. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 9).
37. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
39. Row 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 7).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
43. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
45. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 8).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
49. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.