Inkwell Stars solution — September 6, 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 2, column 2).
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 2, 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 8, column 2).
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 8, column 8).
6. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
7. Undercounting: 5 regions fit in rows 5-9, eliminate 4 outside candidates (row 5, column 4).
8. Undercounting: 5 regions fit in cols 1-5, eliminate 1 outside candidate (row 4, column 5).
9. Composite container (rows 1-3): Regions 1 and 4 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 5).
10. Composite container (rows 7-9): Regions 8 and 9 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 8, column 5).
11. Composite container (columns 1-3): Regions 1 and 8 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 5, column 2).
12. Composite container (columns 7-9): Regions 4 and 9 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 5, column 8).
13. Crowding (Row 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 4, column 2).
14. Composite container (rows 1-6): Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 12 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 7, column 8).
15. Joint analysis (Row 5 + Row 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 8).
16. Quad analysis (Row 5 + Row 4 + Region 3 + Column 6): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 8, column 7).
17. Joint analysis (Row 8 + Region 9): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 2).
18. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 2).
19. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
20. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
21. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
22. 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 4).
23. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 6).
24. Clump analysis (Row 2): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 2, column 9).
25. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
28. Generalized counting (columns 4-5): region star limits exclude these cells (row 7, column 4).
29. Squeeze (columns 4-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 5).
30. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 3).
31. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 3).
32. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
33. Star claim: Region 9 must place a star in row 7; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 6, column 8).
34. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 8).
35. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
37. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
41. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
43. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 1).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
46. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
47. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 5).
48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
52. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 4).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
54. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.