Inkwell Stars solution — March 14, 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 6, column 2).
3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 3).
4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 8).
5. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 10, column 8).
6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 10, column 9).
7. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
8. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 6).
9. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 10, column 6).
10. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
11. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
12. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 4).
13. Generalized counting (columns 9-10): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 10).
14. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 7).
15. Composite container (rows 4-10): Regions 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 14 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 10).
16. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 9).
17. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 9).
18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
19. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 10).
20. Column constraint forcing: Column 10 can only take 1 star, region needs 2 (row 3, column 8).
21. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
22. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
23. Generalized counting (rows 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 2, column 10).
24. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 10).
25. Composite container (rows 2-5): Region 3 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 4).
26. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - row 1 can only hold 2 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 3 (row 3, column 6).
27. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 2, column 6).
28. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
29. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 8).
30. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 8).
31. Clump analysis (Row 1): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 3, column 4).
32. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
33. Row 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
34. Two last candidates (row 2): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 1).
35. Generalized counting (columns 3-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 7, column 4).
36. Crowding (Row 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
37. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 4).
38. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 4).
39. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
40. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
41. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 7, column 3).
42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
43. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 3).
44. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 1).
45. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
46. Row 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 5).
47. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 3).
48. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 2).
49. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
50. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 2).
51. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
52. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 1).
53. Row 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 6).
54. Two last candidates (row 8): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 7, column 6).
55. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 6).
56. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
57. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 7, column 7).
58. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
59. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 5).
60. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 5).
61. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
62. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 5).
63. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 7).
64. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 7).
65. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.