Inkwell Stars solution — July 22, 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. 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 1).
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 3, column 2).
4. 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 8).
5. 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 9).
6. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
7. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
8. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
9. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
10. Crowding (Region 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
11. Generalized counting (rows 2-2): region star limits exclude these cells (row 2, column 3).
12. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 9).
14. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 3).
15. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 7).
16. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
17. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 5).
18. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
20. Column 9 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 9).
21. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 7).
22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
24. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
25. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 3).
26. Column 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
27. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 6).
28. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
30. Row 7 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
31. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 2).
32. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 1).
33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
34. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
36. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 1).
37. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 2).
38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
40. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 1, column 5).
41. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 4).
42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 6).
43. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 6).
44. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 8, column 4).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
46. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
48. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
50. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.