Race against the clock in Modern Warfare 3’s “Highrise” mission and unlock the elusive Elevator Out of Order achievement by reaching the rooftop in under 45 seconds. Master the use of the Ascender tool, zip through elevator shafts, and outsmart enemies as you sprint to victory in this adrenaline-pumping challenge that rewards speed and precision.
The building in “Highrise” features 13 floors of enemies, so getting the Elevator Out of Order trophy is no small feat – in fact, it requires more prep than most Modern Warfare 3 trophies. Our guide will you show how to get the Elevator Out of Order achievement/trophy in Modern Warfare 3.
How to get the Ascender in ’Highrise’ in MW3
To get the Ascender in the “Highrise” mission of Modern Warfare 3, start by progressing through the building to the 11th floor. From the makeshift control room on this floor, navigate through the hallway until you reach an open supply box near the stairs in area D4, where the Ascender is located. Pick it up to gain the ability to use ziplines and ropes for faster movement. After acquiring the Ascender, you can restart the mission to use it from the beginning, enabling you to reach the roof quickly and earn the “Elevator Out of Order” achievement or trophy.
You can’t get the Elevator Out of Order trophy on your first run through “Highrise.” Unlocking the achievement requires the Ascender, which is located on the 11th floor. Once you have the Ascender, run through the level again to try for the Elevator Out of Order trophy.
At the beginning of “Highrise,” in the basement, use the ladder to reach the 5th floor.
From there, keep going ahead – there is only one possible path – and get to the 6th floor. Follow the hallway, go up the staircase, and jump over a window to get to the 7th floor.
Outside the building, follow the path to reach a room with a destroyed ceiling. Use the rack to reach the edge and get to the 8th floor.
Go ahead until you find an elevator, enter the corridor beside it, where you can find a small opening with a ladder that takes you to the 9th floor.
After climbing the ladder, you’ll find yourself in front of a few windows. Get outside of the building using the one on the left and follow the path that will lead you to the 11th floor.
On this floor, you want to go to the west side of the map. To do so, follow the hallway.
At its end, there is a hole in the wall. Go ahead, stay inside the building and follow the corridor until you find a window with a rope.
Beside it, in an orange box, you can find the Ascender.
How to get the Elevator Out of Order trophy in Modern Warfare 3
To get the Elevator Out of Order trophy in Modern Warfare 3, you need to complete the Highrise mission by reaching the roof within 45 seconds. First, play through the mission to find the Ascender tool on the 11th floor, which allows you to quickly climb ropes. After acquiring the Ascender, restart the mission; it will now be in your inventory. From the start, equip a pistol for faster movement, then use the Ascender to climb ropes in the elevator shaft, jump out a window onto a zipline, and continue to the roof. If done efficiently, you can reach the roof in under 45 seconds and unlock the trophy.
With the Ascender in your possession, getting the Elevator Out of Order achievement/trophy is pretty straightforward. First off, avoid wasting time trying to kill enemies, and sprint whenever you can.
In the basement, use the Ascender to take you to the 5th floor.
By retreading the same path you took to get the Ascender, pass the two enemies in the corridor and reach the next rope. Use it to get to the 11th floor.
All you need to do next is, in the window, use the Ascender to zipline to a platform outside the building.
Then, go ahead and use the second rope to zipline you to the next section.
Once you get to the other side you will receive a pop-up notification that you completed the Elevator Out of Order achievement/trophy in Modern Warfare 3.
For more Modern Warfare 3 guides, see how to earn the Back in the Field trophy and the A Shot Blocked achievement, learn where to find all items and weapons in “Precious Cargo,” or check out our walkthrough for “Deep Cover.” If you’re jumping into multiplayer when it goes live, check our guides on the best Striker loadout, best MCW loadout, and best AMR9 loadout.
What’s the secret trick to reach the rooftop in under 45 seconds in MW3
The secret trick to reach the rooftop in under 45 seconds in Modern Warfare 3’s Highrise mission is to first complete the level normally to acquire the Ascender tool, which is found on the 11th floor near a hole in the wall behind a ladder. Once you have the Ascender, restart the mission to reset the timer, equip the Ascender, and use it to zipline up the elevator shaft and through a series of ziplines and shortcuts that bypass most enemies. This allows you to quickly ascend to the rooftop, where the achievement “Elevator Out of Order” unlocks as soon as you reach Price on the ladder within the time limit.
What specific timing or movement techniques make the trick effective
The key timing and movement techniques that make the rooftop trick in Modern Warfare 3 effective involve precise use of the Ascender tool combined with fluid, momentum-preserving movements. Players must quickly equip the Ascender and zipline up the elevator shaft without losing speed, then chain together fast climbs and jumps to maintain momentum. Timing the jump right at the peak of the climb animation and using crouch-slide maneuvers can help preserve speed and avoid delays. Additionally, sprinting before sliding and jump-sliding at the right moment reduces dead slides and maximizes forward momentum, allowing you to reach the rooftop within the 45-second limit. Mastery of these movement inputs and tight timing is essential to pull off the achievement efficiently.
