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