Inkwell Stars solution — August 30, 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 8, column 8).
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 8).
5. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
6. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
7. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
8. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
9. Column 1 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
10. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
11. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 6).
12. Undercounting: 5 regions fit in rows 1-5, eliminate 8 outside candidates (row 3, column 8).
13. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
14. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 5).
15. Region confined to row: Eliminate other row candidates (row 6, column 2).
16. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 3).
17. Composite container (columns 8-10): Region 4 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 6 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 9, column 9).
18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 9).
19. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
20. Composite container (columns 5-10): Regions 3, 4, 6, 9 and 10 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 1, column 5).
21. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 2).
22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
24. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
25. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
26. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
28. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 5).
29. Two last candidates (row 7): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 6, column 7).
30. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
31. Clump analysis (Column 8): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 8).
32. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
37. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
38. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
39. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 10).
41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
42. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
43. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
46. Row 2 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 3).
47. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 3).
48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 3).
49. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
50. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 10).
51. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 10).
53. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.