Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — July 1, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 11×11 grid for July 1, 2026 — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Tap Next to step through it.

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Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 62

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: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 3, column 3).
  3. 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 10).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 5).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 9).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 3).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 10).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 7).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 11): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 5).
  10. Undercounting: 6 regions fit in rows 6-11, eliminate 19 outside candidates (row 6, column 3).
  11. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 1).
  12. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 3).
  13. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  14. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  15. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 10).
  16. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 11).
  17. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
  18. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 1).
  19. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
  20. Region complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
  21. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 11).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
  23. Column 1 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  24. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 2).
  25. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
  27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  28. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 10, column 2).
  29. Column 11 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 11).
  30. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 4).
  31. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
  32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
  33. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  34. Row 2 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 6).
  35. Row 4 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 6).
  36. Column 4 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 4).
  37. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 5).
  38. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 3).
  39. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 11, column 5).
  40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 11, column 6).
  41. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 10).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  45. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 6).
  46. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 6).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  48. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  50. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 7).
  51. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
  52. Row 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 9).
  53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
  54. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 11, column 8).
  55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 11, column 7).
  56. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 3).
  57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 11, column 3).
  58. Column 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  59. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
  60. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 8).
  61. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 10).
  62. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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This is an independent, logic-based walkthrough created by TryHard Puzzles to teach Star Battle solving technique. TryHard Puzzles is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Inkwell Games.