Inkwell Stars solution — May 10, 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 3, column 5).
3. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
4. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
5. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 4).
6. Region dichotomy: Region 4 has only two ways to place its stars, and both rule these cells out (row 5, column 1).
7. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
8. Crowding (Region 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
9. Composite container (rows 1-5): Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 10 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 3).
10. Joint analysis (Column 2 + Region 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 3).
11. Region dichotomy: Region 4 has only two ways to place its stars, and both rule these cells out (row 3, column 2).
12. Joint analysis (Column 2 + Region 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 8, column 1).
13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 9, column 4).
14. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
15. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
16. Joint analysis (Row 8 + Region 7): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 9, column 7).
17. Joint analysis (Region 9 + Row 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 8).
18. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 6).
19. Joint analysis (Region 4 + Column 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 1, column 4).
20. Region dichotomy: Region 4 has only two ways to place its stars, and both rule these cells out (row 6, column 5).
21. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 1).
22. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 6, column 1).
23. Squeeze (columns 8-9): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 7).
24. Joint analysis (Column 7 + Column 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 8).
25. Triple analysis (Region 6 + Column 8 + Region 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 7).
26. Joint analysis (Region 4 + Region 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 1).
27. Triple analysis (Row 3 + Row 2 + Column 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 1, column 1).
28. Crowding (Column 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
29. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 6, column 8).
30. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
31. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
32. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 3).
33. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 3, column 6).
34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
35. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 4).
36. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
37. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 4).
38. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 7).
39. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
40. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 7).
41. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
42. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 8).
43. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
44. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 9).
45. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 9).
46. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 3).
47. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
48. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 2).
49. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 5).
50. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 1).
51. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 1).
52. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 2).
53. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
54. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 5).
55. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 5).
56. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 6).
57. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.