Inkwell Stars solution — July 26, 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 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 8).
3. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
4. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - row 3 can only hold 2 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 3 (row 3, column 5).
5. Composite container (rows 1-3): Regions 1 and 3 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 6 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 1, column 9).
6. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - row 7 can only hold 2 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 3 (row 7, column 6).
7. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 6).
8. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
9. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 1).
10. Generalized counting (rows 4-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 4, column 10).
11. Clump analysis (Region 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 3, column 9).
12. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 1, column 10).
14. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 9).
15. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 9).
16. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 7).
17. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 7).
18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 6, column 6).
19. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
20. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 10).
21. Generalized counting (rows 4-6): region star limits exclude these cells (row 6, column 1).
22. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
23. Two last candidates (row 6): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 7, column 9).
24. Clump analysis (Column 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 8).
25. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
26. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 3).
27. Composite container (rows 1-2): Region 1 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 1 of the band's 4 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 1, column 5).
28. Joint analysis (Row 7 + Row 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 9, column 6).
29. Joint analysis (Column 5 + Region 9): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 4).
30. Joint analysis (Region 7 + Region 9): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 9, column 4).
31. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 7).
32. Squeeze (columns 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 3).
33. Squeeze (columns 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 2).
34. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 1).
35. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 3).
36. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 3).
37. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 2).
38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
39. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 7).
40. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
41. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 5).
42. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 2).
43. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
44. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 1).
45. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 10, column 4).
46. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
47. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 4).
48. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
49. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 8).
50. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
51. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 8).
52. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 6).
53. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 10).
54. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 10).
55. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 9).
56. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 8).
57. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 5).
58. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
59. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 6).
60. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 7).
61. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.