Inkwell Stars solution — April 2, 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 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
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 6, column 3).
4. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
5. Generalized counting (rows 1-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 8).
6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 10).
7. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
8. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 10).
9. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
10. Column 10 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 10).
11. 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 7).
12. 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).
13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 8).
14. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
15. 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 5).
16. 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).
17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 4).
18. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
19. Row 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 2).
20. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
21. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
22. Row 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 2).
23. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 5, column 3).
24. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 2).
25. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
26. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
28. Column 4 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
31. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 7).
32. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 6).
33. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
34. Region complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 6).
35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
39. Column 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
43. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 10, column 2).
44. Column 8 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
46. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 9, column 9).
47. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 9).
48. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 7).
49. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
51. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 1).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 1).
53. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 3).
55. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 10, column 5).
56. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 10, column 7).
57. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
58. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.