Is paladin's Detect evil a Spell-like ability, or the abilityy to cast a spell?

[Hazrond]

Me and a DM are arguing this, i am of the opinion that it is obviously a Spell-like Ability from the tag and text surrounding it, his argument against it is racial traits like Gnome Magic which state the abilities granted are "spell-like abilities" and that since Detect Evil doesn't have this wording it is not

[Arturus Caeldhon]

I don't understand the difference. They are both spell-like abilities, because they are abilities that are like spells. The entry says "Detect Evil (Sp)". (Sp) means it's a spell-like ability. I think your DM needs to learn the rules, because he is clueless. Bafflingly simple question.

[master_marshmallow]

What is the question though? What difference does it make in game?

[Melkiador]

The (sp) tag is all you need to know that an ability is spell-like.

What's really questionable is when a supernatural (su) ability, like the witches flight hex, gives you the ability to cast spells.

[Talib Aguiye Ironsi]

A Paladin can cast Detect Evil, as a spell-like ability, at will. The tag, "(Sp)", means "spell-like ability". The abbreviation "SLA" is popular here on the forums.

As a spell-like ability, it still provokes attacks of opportunity, unless "cast" defensively. It has no somatic, verbal, or material components, and doesn't even require a focus or holy symbol. It still requires a concentration check under certain circumstances.

There is one difference that people get caught up on, though, specifically regarding the Paladin's spell-like ability. A Paladin has 2 options when casting Detect Evil as a spell-like ability at will:

1) exactly as the spell. Standard action to cast, multiple rounds of concentration, and a cone-shaped area.

OR

2) as a move action, with one target, and not requiring the 3 rounds of concentration.

But other than those options, a Paladin's Detect Evil SLA is pretty mundane.

[Rub-Eta]

It is a spell-like ability, as noted in the books. The gnome trait in it self isn't the spell-like ability, though it grants spell-like abilities.

[Buri Reborn]

It is spell-like. It also has a distinct feature that differentiates it from a simple casting of the spell. It has a modified version that uses the spell's effect in a nonstandard way from the description of the spell. That alone should be a huge flag.