Inkwell Stars solution — September 19, 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: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 5).
3. Clump analysis (Row 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
4. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 9).
5. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
6. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
7. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
8. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
9. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
10. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 1).
11. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
12. Crowding (Region 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
13. Composite container (rows 4-6): Region 7 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 5, column 2).
14. Crowding (Row 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
15. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 1).
16. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
17. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 2).
18. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
19. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
20. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
21. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
22. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 6).
23. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 5).
24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
25. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
28. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
30. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 4, column 2).
31. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 1).
32. Region complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
35. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 6).
36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
37. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
39. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
41. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 2).
46. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
48. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
49. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 6).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
51. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.