Model your run constraints
Choose player count before entering extra T5s. Standard solo has no extra T5 access from teammates. Dart has a separate Master Double Cross setting, and Totems require explicitly enabled Geraldo. These controls prevent suggestions from quietly assuming inaccessible towers or heroes.
The target starts at 100, requiring 200,000 effective Power. You may compare a lower target. Each single-resource minimum is checked through the same forward calculation as the result, including category and player limits.
Solo without Totems in v57
22,500,000 qualifying damage supplies 125,000 Power. Eligible non-T5 cash equal to four times the upgrade price supplies 80,000. Their 205,000 sum caps at 200,000, reaching Degree 100 without extra T5s or Totems. This tests resource feasibility, not your actual available cash, time or map space.
If damage already supplies 125,000, cash only needs to supply 75,000. For $500,000 Medium Ascended Shadow, that is $1,875,000 eligible cash. The solver reports the minimum additional amount relative to your existing resources. Required T5 setup and the Paragon upgrade still cost extra.
Why historical advice differs
v56.3 standard solo categories could supply 160,000 with cash, damage and tiers full, reaching Degree 91 without extras or Totems. That ceiling does not apply to v57. If one resource is infeasible, combine open categories; neither cash nor damage alone can provide 200,000.