Inkwell Stars solution — September 20, 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 2, column 8).
3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 7).
4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 4, column 8).
5. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 7).
6. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 7).
8. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 4).
9. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
10. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
11. Undercounting: 3 regions fit in cols 7-9, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 8, column 7).
12. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 5).
13. Crowding (Column 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 9).
14. Composite container (rows 4-9): Regions 6, 7, 8 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 3 of the band's 12 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 5, column 4).
15. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - row 2 must hold 2 stars but the regions there could only supply 1 (row 1, column 1).
16. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - row 2 must hold 2 stars but the regions there could only supply 1 (row 1, column 2).
17. Joint analysis (Row 2 + Row 1): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 2).
18. Joint analysis (Row 6 + Region 8): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 2).
19. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 6).
20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 6).
21. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
22. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 3).
23. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 3).
24. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 3).
25. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 2).
26. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 5).
29. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
31. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
33. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
34. Row 3 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 9).
36. Column 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
38. Row 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
40. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
41. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
44. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
49. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
52. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
54. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.