I dont know what order you Model/Texture/Rig/Smooth... Render

I have modelled a char, its Smooth Proxy looks great. Now should I have rigged the low poly or the high? - Always see in animatics/Previs's people animating with their low poly model so their PC doesnt implode. But when I render this I get the Diamond faceted polygon look, smoothing at the end as everybody but me knew, threw everything for a loop. I have spent days trying to get the High Poly to inherit the Animation but dont know how.