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