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