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