Darla had the standard powers and vulnerabilities of a Buffyverse vampire, with a greater lust for blood and destruction than most. She was eternally young, regenerated damage, drained human blood to survive, and was stronger than most vampires. Darla was vulnerable to holy items and sunlight, and could be killed by decapitation and a stake to the heart. She could not enter the home of a living human without first being invited by someone who lives there.

Psychologically, Darla acted in a self-responsible and conscious way. She generally did not blame others for who or what she was or for her actions; most evidence suggests that she was who she was entirely due to her own choice.

As a side note, Darla was also capable of sensing the presence of a soul in others, as she did when Angelus was cursed for the first time. This could be incidental with the fact that she sired him and was extremely close to him or it could be an ability that all vampires possess (it is often mentioned that they can sense who is human and who is a vampire, so perhaps this is one way by which they know).

Darla often used her beauty and sexuality to lure unsuspecting prey. Unlike her more aggressive male counterparts (Angelus and Spike), she is rarely seen "hunting"; her prey willingly approached her, never suspecting their fate until it was too late.