Inkwell Stars solution — April 28, 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 2, column 4).
3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 5).
4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 1).
5. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 2).
6. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 9).
7. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 10).
8. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 6).
9. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 7).
10. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 1).
11. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
12. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 9).
13. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 10).
14. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
15. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
16. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
17. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
18. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 1).
19. Column 1 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
20. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 2).
21. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
22. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 2).
23. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 2).
24. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
25. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
26. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 5).
27. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
28. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 9).
29. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 9, column 10).
30. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 9).
31. Row 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 4).
32. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
33. Crowding (Region 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 9).
34. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 10).
35. Column 10 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 10).
36. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 9).
37. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
38. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 9).
39. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
40. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 8).
41. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
42. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 8).
43. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 7).
44. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
45. Column 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
46. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 8, column 6).
47. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
48. Row 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 4).
49. Two last candidates (row 5): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 4, column 3).
50. Row 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 6, column 6).
51. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 7).
52. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 5).
53. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
54. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 3).
55. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 3, column 6).
56. Clump analysis (Row 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 6).
57. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
58. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 4).
59. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 4).
60. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
61. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 3).
62. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 5).
63. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
64. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
65. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 7).
66. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 4).
67. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 5).
68. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 6).
69. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 6).
70. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
71. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.