Are deathtouch and indestructible abilities? Like could a card that deactivates abilities get rid of those?
yes cards like {humility} will get rid of those abilities.
They are not activated abilities though! ;)
Deathtouch is an ability. Indestructible is a property of the permanent, but if its on a creature then its an ability. If the creature says "this creature is indestructible." then it can lose that ability. However an artifact creature made indestructable by {Darksteel Forge} won't lose the ability.
Thanks! That helps me against my friends who bought avacyn