Would there be a reason to cast a higher level version of a spell if there is no difference between it and it’s lower level version?
For instance:
Speak With Animals II seems to be the same as Speak With Animals I. There are other examples with other spells, but is there a reason to cast the different versions? Cost seems the same, effect seems the same…
Yes, upcasted Counterspell is functioning in game. If you really want to stop a spell cast with the highest spell slot.
I’m not talking about upcasting Counterspell, but upcasting some other spell to make it less likely for a Counterspell against it to succeed.
Both directions work since the mechanics of Counterspell function based on the spell slot used to cast. Same or better spell slot autocounters; everything else is a spell attack roll against 10 + the spell slot of the the cast spell.
Edit: I probably shouldn’t have use spell attack to describe it but it’s basically the same minus the equipment and ability bonuses that apply to attack rolls specifically.