Rotating joints are the simplest lifting mechanism to design and build. It usually has a single arm connected to gears that rotate between two structures we usually refer to as towers. A rotating joint is often used for simple tasks like pushing or lifting small distances. One problem with a rotating joint is that when a game field element is picked up, the angle of the a claw that picks up a game field element changes in relationship to the field.

Elevators are less common than rotating joints due to the amount of friction created with the upward motion. The plastic gears may end up skipping if they are not perfectly meshed and held together. The linear motion of an elevator lift can be created using a rack and pinion or a chain drive. Both are somewhat challenging to achieve, but the advantage is that a claw that picks up a game field element will not change angles when mounted to this type of lift. The claw will remain parallel to the ground.