Yes, you can cast multiple spells at the same time and have both take effect
There are no rules against this
The rules are fairly clear about what is and is not allowed with regards to when and how spells can be cast. The restrictions on spellcasting timing come down to two major rule categories:
- Action economy
- Concentration
As long as you have the action available to cast the spell with all the appropriate rules that all spells must follow then you can cast it. There is no rule that restricts casting with respect to ongoing casting and certainly nothing that implies that it is in any way cancelled.
Sage Advice Compendium explicitly allows it and there appears to be no mistake
You quoted it and I understand being sceptical, but there is no reason to think that this is a mistake. It contradicts no rules and it is an official rules clarification document.
If counterspell did not work this way, there would be no way to counter a counterspell to one of your own spells. And the whole point of this Sage Advice was to clarify that counterspell is intended to allow this.
However, that is not the only example of casting spells at the same time.
Spells with casting times longer than 1 action/reaction is another place where this could happen
When you cast a spell with a casting time longer than a single action or reaction, you must spend your action each turn casting the spell, and you must maintain your concentration while you do so.
Take this case for example:
- Cornelius begins casting simulacrum
- Cornelius casts feather fall in response to someone falling
- Cornelius continues casting simulacrum
- After the casting time is completed, simulacrum takes effect
In this case, you do actually kind of cast two spells at the same time. And this should work with any type of spell cast as a reaction during the casting of a spell with a duration greater than 1 action or reaction. As long as the caster maintains concentration and uses their action every turn to continue casting the long spell, they can do whatever they want.
Note that this will not work with bonus action spells because the restriction on those means that only 1 action cantrips can be cast the same turn.
You may interrupt the casting of a spell as soon as you see it is being cast, by using your reaction.
The casting time of Counterspell is
1 reaction, which you take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell.
If a spell has a casting time of 1 minute, they are casting for that 1 minute and if you see them you may counterspell. If the casting time is 1 action you must immediately spend your reaction to counterspell or miss your window.
You attempt to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell.
The key here is interrupt. You may do so at any point during the casting.
Best Answer
While the top answer to the question Can you perform a reaction to somebody else's reaction? answers this question explicitly by quoting the Sage Advice column I feel it is no duplicate, because even while that specific answer might answer this question too, it is not the same question.
Here the quote from the Sage Advice column:
This explicitly answers this question, but let me additionally explain why/how it works:
At first, you must be able to cast an additional spell in your round, can you do it?
You mentioned the rule about not being able to cast another non-cantrip spell after casting certain spells. That is a very confusing rule which can be found in the PHB on p.202.
This means, if the mentioned spell cast by the wizard uses the bonus action you can only use cantrips which use your action in your turn. Counterspell does not fulfill these requirements. So, you could not counterspell a counterspell on a bonus action spell cast by yourself.
Second, can you use your reaction in your own turn?
On the same page in the PHB it says:
Counterspell tells you:
Counterspell itself a spell and if your enemy uses the spell he has to be in 60ft range (unless he uses meta-magic). It does not limit you in any way when the spell you want to counterspell has to be cast, so you can theoretically counterspell in anyones turn, yours too.
Which is supported by PHB p.190: