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