When someone uses means of climbing their way to the top that other would deem cheap or unfair. Usually (but not always) refers to online games with a ladder ranking system. People who "take the elevator instead of the ladder" will use powerful characters, weapons, or tactics that they know
all too well are soon to receive the
ban hammer or their
bullshitly high power to skill ratio in order to get as high up on the ranking ladder for the game as they can, usually for fame, respect, and power in the community.
David took the elevator instead of the corporate ladder to become VP of his company by brown nosing the boss.
Many of the newer or less experienced players on
Pokemon Showdown were taking the elevator instead of
the ladder by abusing the fuck out of Mega
Gengar before its imminent ban from OU.
The ladder gets reset after each ban anyways, so the joke is on them.
