Inkwell Stars solution — October 9, 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 6, column 2).
3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 7).
4. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
5. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 4).
6. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
7. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 9).
8. Star claim: Region 8 must place a star in column 6; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 6, column 5).
9. Crowding (Region 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
10. Crowding (Region 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
11. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in rows 1-4, eliminate 6 outside candidates (row 3, column 1).
12. Crowding (Column 2): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 9, column 1).
13. Crowding (Column 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 9, column 6).
14. Squeeze (columns 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 5).
15. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
16. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 1).
17. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
18. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
19. Column 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
20. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 3).
21. Clump analysis (Column 2): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 2).
22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
23. Crowding (Column 3): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
24. Crowding (Row 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 9).
25. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 9).
26. Generalized counting (rows 5-7): region star limits exclude these cells (row 7, column 5).
27. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
28. Clump analysis (Row 6): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 6).
29. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 10).
33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
34. Row 5 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 3).
35. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 2).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 2).
37. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 4).
38. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 6).
39. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 8).
40. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 10).
41. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 10).
42. Column 10 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 10).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
45. Row 1 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
46. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 5).
47. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 4).
48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
54. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
56. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 6).
57. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 8).
58. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 9, column 7).
59. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
60. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 7).
61. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 4).
62. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 4).
63. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
64. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
65. Row 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 9).
66. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
67. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 9).
68. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.