Inkwell Stars solution — July 4, 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 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
3. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 9).
4. Clump analysis (Region 11): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 10).
5. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in rows 1-3, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 2, column 3).
6. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 1).
7. Generalized counting (rows 9-11): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 6).
8. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 7).
9. Composite container (rows 4-8): Regions 4, 5, 6 and 7 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 7, column 4).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 6).
11. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
12. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 5).
13. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 4).
14. Clump analysis (Column 3): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 3).
15. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
16. Crowding (Row 9): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 10).
17. Squeeze (rows 8-9): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 10, column 11).
18. Squeeze (rows 8-9): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 8, column 4).
19. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 4).
20. Generalized counting (rows 3-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 1).
21. Composite container (rows 2-3): Region 1 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 3 of the band's 4 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 1, column 6).
22. Composite container (rows 3-8): Regions 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 12 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 10).
23. Composite container (rows 3-8): Regions 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 12 stars - impossible without stars on these cells (row 7, column 10).
24. Row 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 2).
25. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 5, column 2).
26. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 2).
27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
28. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
29. Clump analysis (Region 8): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 9, column 1).
30. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
31. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
33. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 11, column 1).
34. Region complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 11, column 3).
35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 3).
36. Region complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 5).
37. Two last candidates (row 10): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 11, column 8).
38. Two last candidates (column 6): Eliminate 3 cells adjacent to both (row 4, column 5).
39. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 5).
40. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
41. Row 1 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
43. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
45. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 11).
49. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
50. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 8).
51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
53. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 11, column 7).
54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 8).
55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
56. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
57. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 11).
58. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 11, column 11).
59. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
60. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
61. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 10).
62. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 11).
63. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.