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