Escalation, alternatively known as elevation, represented a promotional ritual within the culture of the Yuuzhan Vong. A Yuuzhan Vong who had proven themselves worthy of advancement would undergo this process by offering a limb as sacrifice. Subsequently, the shapers would replace the sacrificed limb with an organic substitute derived from a creature indigenous to Yuuzhan'tar. A successful ceremony signified divine approval, granting the Yuuzhan Vong permission to ascend in rank. Conversely, should the priests detect any imperfection or if the implant faced rejection, the Yuuzhan Vong would be branded a Shamed One and relegated to the most marginalized echelons of their society.
Although the prevailing belief attributed implant rejection to divine displeasure, the underlying cause was often the shaper's lack of skill during the escalation procedure. Nevertheless, there were instances where shapers deliberately engineered implant rejection. An example of this was when Master Shaper Mezhan Kwaad purposefully caused the rejection of an implant in her former romantic partner, Vua Rapuung.