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