Inkwell Stars solution — March 11, 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 5, column 5).
3. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 5, column 7).
4. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 7, column 5).
5. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
6. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
7. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 3, column 4).
8. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 8, column 5).
9. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 4).
10. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
11. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 7).
12. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 7).
13. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
14. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
15. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 4).
16. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 4).
18. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
21. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 3).
22. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
24. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
25. Row 4 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
26. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 10, column 3).
27. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 6, column 7).
28. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 6).
29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
31. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
32. Row 6 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
35. Row 8 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 1).
36. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 2).
37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
39. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
40. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 1).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 5).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 6).
43. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 10).
44. Column 5 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
45. Column 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
46. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 3, column 8).
47. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 9).
48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 10).
49. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 10).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 10).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
53. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 8).
54. Column 10 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 10).
55. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 9, column 8).
56. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
57. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 8).
58. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 7).
59. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
60. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
61. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
62. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 1).
63. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
64. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
65. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.