Star Battle #10 (October 14, 2026): solution and step-by-step

Each step is a deduction a person can make, in the order our solver found them. Rows and columns are counted from the top-left corner.

1. Stars at row 7, column 5 and row 9, column 5. The gold region still needs two stars, and its free cells allow only one way to place them without touching — so they go in.

2. Cross out 8 cells. Stars can't touch, not even diagonally — the cells around this star are crossed out.

3. Cross out 2 cells. Stars can't touch, not even diagonally — the cells around this star are crossed out.

4. Cross out 5 cells. Column 5 already has both its stars — the rest of it is crossed out.

5. Cross out row 3, column 8. The lavender region still needs two stars that don't touch — this cell can't be one of them, so it's crossed out.

6. Cross out 2 cells. The mint region still needs two stars that don't touch — these cells can't be part of any such placement, so they're crossed out.

7. Star at row 9, column 9. Every way to place the mint region's two stars without touching uses this cell — so it's a star.

8. Cross out row 8, column 9. Stars can't touch, not even diagonally — the cells around this star are crossed out.

9. Cross out 4 cells. Row 9 already has both its stars — the rest of it is crossed out.

10. Star at row 8, column 7. The mint region has only one free cell left — that must be its last star.

11. Cross out 2 cells. Stars can't touch, not even diagonally — the cells around this star are crossed out.

12. Cross out row 7, column 2. The orchid region still needs two stars that don't touch — this cell can't be one of them, so it's crossed out.

42 more steps follow until all 18 stars are placed.

Stars by row: row 1: columns 2 and 7; row 2: columns 4 and 9; row 3: columns 2 and 6; row 4: columns 4 and 8; row 5: columns 1 and 6; row 6: columns 3 and 8; row 7: columns 1 and 5; row 8: columns 3 and 7; row 9: columns 5 and 9.