Board Thread:Question and Answer/@comment-71.34.134.152-20161023213723/@comment-28537461-20161023224819

You're free to awaken at any time. Awakening a HxR at Level 1 won't cost you anything. Doing it at a higher level won't gain you anything. The only advantage in leveling up first is you might not succeed. If you've got 810 orbs of the right element, great. But if not, a level 80 HUR will still help you in battle until you do get it awakened.