D&D 5E Drow and innate Darkness spell

[Motorskills]

I've used Drow a little bit so far in 5e, but I haven't really used their innate Darkness ability much to date, at least not effectively.

My understanding is that Drow can't see through their own Darkness since it blocks Darkvision.

So why is their Darkness good, and how should I be using it, offensively and defensively?

 

[Leatherhead]

Area denial against ranged foes. Concealment for your party to set up an ambush (you can still hear people walk by).

Alternatively you can try the move-and-shoot-and-move method of ranged combat. Plop that bubble down near you, jump out of it to shoot, then jump back in so they can't target you for retaliation. Also use a bonus action to hide if you can, so that they can't pinpoint you via sound.

 

[Fanaelialae]

I've used Drow a little bit so far in 5e, but I haven't really used their innate Darkness ability much to date, at least not effectively.

My understanding is that Drow can't see through their own Darkness since it blocks Darkvision.

So why is their Darkness good, and how should I be using it, offensively and defensively?

If they have grimlock slaves or bound devils in their service, those creatures can operate within the darkness without issue.

They can also drop Darkness between themselves and the PCs in order to give the PCs disadvantage on ranged attacks and negate spells that require line of sight.

Dropping it on the PCs might force them to leave an advantageous position (such as a choke point).

It can be used to hide in. Given the large area (30' diameter), the PCs will have a difficult time guessing the correct square to target. This is especially effective for things like goblin slaves, who can hide as a bonus action.

Darkness can also be used to move freely or cover a retreat, since you can't make opportunity attacks if you can't see your target.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

Note: I don't profess to be a tactical master as a DM, nor actually even all that concerned about being tactically skilled as pertains to running monsters in D&D, I just care about the game being entertaining for the people gathered around my table.

I like to use the darkness spell as part of an attempt to flee, a feigned attempt to flee that establishes an ambush, or to create chaos by lobbing other area affecting attacks into it.

For fleeing, the benefit is especially noticed if there are any characters with the Sentinel feat, since opportunity attacks require you to be able to see the moving opponent.
For setting up an ambush, placing the darkness so that it ensures your intended targets haven't seen where you've just quickly laid a trap or which direction you have chosen to lie in wait in can be very useful.
For chaos, one of the prime factors to remember is that not being able to see prevents the use of some spells - for example, casters caught in a darkness spell can't counterspell the lightning bolt or cloudkill of a drow mage.