Inkwell Stars solution — May 30, 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 4, column 2).
3. Undercounting: 2 regions fit in rows 1-2, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 1, column 5).
4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
5. Joint analysis (Column 5 + Column 6): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 7).
6. Composite container (columns 5-6): Region 8 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 4 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 9, column 5).
7. Composite container (columns 7-10): Regions 3, 5 and 7 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 8).
8. Composite container (rows 4-10): Regions 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 14 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 5, column 6).
9. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - rows 3-6 can only hold 8 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 9 (row 6, column 10).
10. Quad analysis (Column 6 + Column 5 + Row 7 + Row 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 9, column 3).
11. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
12. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 3).
13. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
14. Squeeze (columns 7-8): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 10, column 8).
15. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
16. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 10).
17. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 10).
18. Clump analysis (Row 7): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 7, column 9).
19. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
20. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
21. Clump analysis (Column 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
22. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 3).
23. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 1).
24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
25. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 1).
26. Squeeze (columns 9-10): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 8).
27. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 3).
28. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 7).
29. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
30. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 4).
31. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 3).
32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
34. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
35. Column 1 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
38. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 5).
39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
41. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 1, column 3).
42. 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 3).
43. Two last candidates (column 3): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 3, column 2).
44. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 5).
45. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
46. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 3).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
49. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
51. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
52. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 2).
53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 10).
56. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
57. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 10, column 5).
58. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 6).
59. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 7).
60. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
61. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.