Deadshot

> Worst part of it is, they're going to blame us for the whole thing. And they can't have people knowing the truth. We're the patsies. The cover-up. Don't forget, we're the bad guys.
>
> Deadshot to Task Force X, Suicide Squad

**Floyd Lawton**, also known as **Deadshot**, is an assassin and mercenary. After his capture by Batman, Lawton was imprisoned in Belle Reve, where he was later recruited by Amanda Waller to join the government-sanctioned Task Force X.

While on a mission in Midway City, Lawton was tasked with the defeat of Enchantress, who built a doomsday device in the city, and her brother Incubus. His success served to reduce his prison sentence and allowed Lawton to visit his daughter.

## Biography

### Early life

> My job pays me a shitload of money, and that lets me make sure Zoe gets the good life she deserves, not the crap life I lived.
>
> Deadshot to Captain Boomerang, Suicide Squad: The Official Movie Novelization

Floyd Lawton was born on April 12, 1978. Lawton had an unhappy childhood. He began his vigilante career in Gotham City, New Jersey, but gradually evolved into a high-cost assassin and mercenary. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts at some point. Lawton idolized his older brother, who he accidentally shot as a teenager. As a result of this event, several factors came into play: he began to form deep affiliations with surrogate brothers, training in arms and display an inability to kill the vigilante known as Batman.

Lawton's incredible skills eventually made him the most wanted hitman in the world with an elite clientele. At some point, Deadshot was paid a significant amount to perform an unusually twisted assassination. As part of the request, he carved out the man's heart and sent it to the client.

#### Mission in Gotham City

 File:Deadshot talks to his employer promotional still.jpg

> This is the exterminator you called for your "rat problem.
>
> Deadshot to Angelo, Suicide Squad

When Deadshot was on hire to kill an informant in police custody who was about to testify against his client, he set up a hardened reflective panel in front of the courthouse at the Gardener Building. Days before the informant's arrival, Deadshot had set up his equipment and uniform on the roof of the building in preparation for the assassination. On the day of the hit, Deadshot passed a group of homeless people on Courthouse Alley. Deadshot then scattered a few dinner coupons among the homeless partly out of charity but also to distract attention from his setup. He managed to enter the Gardener building by pretending to be a handyman while on-guard US Marshals checked off his 'name' on the approved list. After arriving at the rooftop, Deadshot quickly assembled his weapons and changed into his uniform. Deadshot called his client Angelo and demanded that he get paid immediately before killing the informant. As the convoy arrived and Deadshot threatened to call off the hit, he received his payment of $1 million upfront. However, for being rude to him, Deadshot then demanded that Angelo double the payment.

 File:Deadshot taking aim at his target for Angelo.jpg
Through manipulation, Angelo begrudgingly doubled Deadshot's payment to $2 million. Satisfied, he cocked his wrist-mounted gun and fired a bullet from atop a tall building, perfectly striking the reflective panel and killing the informant. With his job complete, he put on his white mask and fled the scene by rappelling down the building.

#### Captured by Batman

 File:Batman glides down to capture Floyd Lawton.png

> It's over, Deadshot! I don't want to have to do this in front of your daughter.
>
> Batman to Deadshot, Suicide Squad

In December 2013, after hearing of Deadshot, Amanda Waller becomes a situational ally of Batman, giving the latter some crucial information on how to track the assassin down. Hence, while Deadshot is walking down the street with his daughter Zoe, Batman suddenly glides down and seizes Deadshot, telling the latter to surrender, not wanting to do anything in front of Deadshot's daughter.

 File:Deadshot saying goodbye.png
Deadshot attempts to fight off the vigilante, but Batman swiftly gets the better of him, knocking Deadshot to the ground. Deadshot then promptly takes out his gun and attempts to shoot Batman, but Zoe stands in the way, crying because she did not want her father to kill anyone else. After a moment, Deadshot surrenders his gun and himself to Batman, who cuffs him to a gate and leaves him for the GCPD, who find him being hugged by a saddened Zoe who proclaims she loves her father while he says nothing. He is subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment at Belle Reve in Louisiana where he is subjected to abuse from the prison guards there including Captain Hunter Griggs.

### Saving the world

#### Recruited into Task Force X

> See... the firing pin is filed down, right? Mag full of dummy rounds. If I pull the trigger, nothing happens."
> "You're right. Why would we give a loaded weapon to an infamous hitman? Go ahead, pull the trigger. Empty it.
>
> Deadshot and Amanda Waller, Suicide Squad

In 2016, nine months after Griggs took over as his main guard at Belle Reve, Deadshot is incarcerated in a prison where he is often mistreated by the guards of Belle Reve especially Griggs who feeds him disgusting food and beat him regularly.

 File:Floyd Lawton is given a gun after imprisonment.png
While alone in his cell, he thinks about the last words his daughter spoke to him that "She loves him, even though he does bad things." Later, Amanda Waller gathers skilled individuals and metahumans for Project Task Force X. While being coerced into joining the team, Deadshot personally displays his sharpshooter skills in front of Rick Flag, Waller, Griggs, and others in an attempt to negotiate that he be released and his daughter Zoe Lawton should be well provided for including a free ride to an Ivy League University in exchange for his services.

#### Deployment in Midway City

 File:Suicide Squad getting ready.jpg

> That's how I cut and run.
>
> Deadshot, Suicide Squad

With the attack in Midway City, Michigan by the mystical duo Enchantress and Incubus, Deadshot, along with the other members of the Suicide Squad (such as Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, El Diablo, and Killer Croc), are implanted with explosive nanotechnology provided by Dr. Van Criss and transferred to an evacuation point outside of the city, where they are joined by Slipknot. As the villains suit up for their mission, Harley asks if Deadshot is hesitant to put on his gear because it will no longer fit due to weight gain, He replies "No," and says that every time he puts it on "somebody dies" and that he "likes putting it on." They are given instructions by Waller via an electronic tablet that they are under Flag's direct command and extracting a highly valued asset known as HVT1 from the besieged city and will receive 10 years off of their life sentences as a reward.

 File:Deadshot-0.jpg
Flag warned them if they annoy him or try to escape, he will kill them by using his touchpad to detonate their implanted nanobots - blowing their heads off. Deadshot informs Flag his motivational skills are lacking, citing he's no Phil Jackson and that even Waller's technique is superior to his. Deadshot states Task Force X is essentially just a "Suicide Squad". Flag's bodyguard Katana joins them at the last moments before take-off, with another helicopter carrying Squad B escorting them.

 File:Deadshot and Harley Quinn eye each other up.jpg
While mid-flight en route to their destination, Deadshot sees Harley communicating by text to the Joker with a phone that was given to her by a coerced Griggs. Harley signals for Deadshot to be quiet about it and he decides to comply. When Harley notices the otherworldly disturbance caused by Enchantress, Deadshot asks Flag what happened and the latter lies calling it just a terrorist attack. This causes Deadshot to call him out as a bad liar. Lawton states he is a killer and hitman and he is not in the business of saving people.

Flag remarks Lawton will do anything for pay. After Lawton snaps back Flag "knows the dark places, too." Flag proudly declares he is a soldier and that Deadshot is a serial murderer for hire and that when the shooting starts Lawton will "just cut and run." as he thinks nothing of the hitman. When their helicopter is shot down, the squad is forced to travel the rest of the way on foot, splitting up with Squad B, who safely lands their helicopter nearby. After Captain Boomerang talks Slipknot into a foolish attempt to escape, getting the latter killed in the process by Flag, he asks who will die next and threatens Lawton. Afterward, Deadshot and Harley bond (with her referring to him as her "Friend" and he called her "Doll Face") and plot against Flag to turn the odds in their favor the first chance they get.

#### Battle of Midway City

 File:Deadshot battles eyes of the adversary.jpg
Soon after, the group encounters weird looking creatures in the Enchantress' employment known as the Eyes of the Adversary. Flag again threatens to blow Lawton's head off if he runs away when Deadshot inquires about the mutated creatures. When Deadshot and Flag, and the others approach them, the creatures become hostile and attack. The squad is initially overwhelmed as the monsters capture Flag, much to Harley's delight. Knowing the Squad members are as good as dead if the colonel is injured or killed, Deadshot reminds her of what Waller had said about that and leads his teammates to rally and turns the fight in their favor as Flag is recovered. By himself, he stands on a car and guns down many creatures, leaving even members of the US Army in awe of his skills.

Saying that is how he "cuts and run" to Flag, the proud hitman stops Harley from beating up the dead creatures when she claims to have seen them move. He then asks Flag if the monstrous "terrorists" were once civilians (which the latter admitted), having seen one of the Eyes wearing a $3,000 watch. While moving on with the objective, the determined Colonel then contacts Waller when all contact with Squad B fails and learns the other squadron was engaged with another group of Eyes at the same time, but were all taken as prisoners and brought to the Enchantress herself.

 File:Deadshot talking with Flag.jpg
About halfway to the building where HVT1 is located, Deadshot stops to look through the window of a children's clothing store. There, he sees a child-size mannequin of a winter parka similar to the one Zoe wore the day he was captured. After witnessing Deadshot's abilities in combat situations and seeing how the other members of Task Force X interact with and respect him, Flag asks Lawton to help him lead and keep the group in line so they have better odds of surviving the mission. He promises to pull strings for Deadshot if he complies stating Waller is not the only one with connections. Deadshot keeps Harley in line when she begins to taunt Croc and Katana asking her to "play nice with the other children."

As they proceeded onward, Killer Croc expressed a desire to hire Deadshot's services. According to Croc, there were several names he wanted to cross off of his list. After bragging about his price, Deadshot quickly learned that Croc had in fact already hired him years ago to perform the twisted acts which included removing a man's heart and sending it to the client - Croc himself.

#### Retrieving Waller

 File:Harley Quinn and Deadshot.jpg

> You better think of something, cause they're out there thinking we're saving Nelson Mandella.
>
> Deadshot to Amanda Waller, Suicide Squad

When they reach the John F. Ostrander Federal Building, Deadshot goes ahead of the rest of the group despite protest from Flag. Flag and company immediately follow him into the building, and when Harley breaks away from the others Lawton, Flag, and the others go after Harley together. When Flag is given the heads up the group is surrounded by hostiles, Deadshot puts on his trademark protective mask, prompting Harley to mock him as a "pussy" and Lawton to admonish her and threaten to knock her out despite her being a girl. When the group is under attack from the Eyes of the Adversary, Lawton gets Harley, Boomerang, Croc, and Katana to circle Flag to protect him from the army of the Eyes of the Adversary.

 File:El Diablo shoots flames.jpg
He then aggravates El Diablo enough by taunting him, that he kills the hostile creatures around them. Lawton apologizes to Santana afterward stating he was just trying to motivate like Phil Jackson. As they advance up to the higher levels of the building, using the stairs, Deadshot has a gun pointed in his face by Harley who is lost in thought about the night of her transformation physically at Ace Chemicals. When she regains her focus, she lowers the gun she had pointed at her friend. Harley then asks Deadshot point blank if "he's ever been in love?" To which Deadshot reply's "Naw. Never" stating he doubts he'd be able to sleep so well at night having killed as many people as he has and could feel deep emotions like love. Harley refers to Deadshot as "another textbook sociopath" possibly comparing him to her lover the Joker.

Once the group reaches the intended floor, Flag asks to continue into a secured room alone to retrieve the target, Deadshot states their rescuee better "cure cancer" after all the trouble they've gone through. Initially, Flag and the target revealed to be Waller herself, talk but are soon joined in conversation by Deadshot. Lawton is present as he and Flag witness Waller murder every single member of her FBI special ops team because they didn't have "clearance." He calls Waller "a mean lady" for the cold-blooded murders.

 File:Harley makes her escape.jpg
Having acquired Waller, Lawton, Flag, and the rest of the Suicide Squad escort her to the roof for a helicopter pick up. When it's revealed the Joker hijacked Waller's rescue ride and opens fire on the Suicide Squad he tells Harley to use this moment for her escape as the others duck for cover. When a captive Dr. Van Criss jams the signal that allows Flag to detonate the nano explosive in her neck, Waller approaches Deadshot with a bounty for Harley. Waller tempts a hesitant Deadshot with freedom for himself and real-life for his daughter if he kills Harley. He promises to do it, but refusing to be just a pawn Deadshot, the man that never misses, intentionally aims off-target and spares a vulnerable Harley. His refusal to kill one of their own further earns him the respect of his fellow Task Force X members, especially Captain Boomerang.

It appears to be for nothing when Waller orders the hijacked helicopter by Jokers gang shot down and Joker and Harley are killed. Lawton becomes further disheartened when Waller's freshly arrived Helicopter shortly after is also shot down by the Eyes of the Adversary army, and Flag admits Lawton has no deal if they do not rescue Waller. Outside the building on the street level once again the Suicide Squad is reunited with Harley who thinks her lover is now dead. Grateful Harley is still alive and that his act of defiance wasn't for nothing, Deadshot grabs Harley into his arms from on top of a car roof and lowers his friend safely onto the ground.

#### Drowning sorrows

 File:Task Force X stand in the rain.png

> Here's to honor... among thieves.
>
> Deadshot to Task Force X, Suicide Squad

With Enchantress's heart returned and Amanda Waller her valuable captive for top secret information about Earth's defenses, Enchantress's machine neared completion. As the group advanced closer on what Deadshot called "A big swirling ring of trash in the sky," he grew more concerned about what the squad was getting itself into and demanded answers. When Flag blew him off, Waller's binder of classified information caught Deadshot's eye at the helicopter crash site where Incubus attacked. Upon reading it and finding out the truth that all the chaos is being caused by all-powerful fellow squad member went rogue and her brother, and that Waller is inadvertently responsible, Deadshot demands Flag tell the group. When Deadshot gives up hope and states Flag needs a miracle, he abandons the mission to go get a drink at a nearby bar. The other Squad members follow him including Flag's bodyguard Katana.

 File:Suicide Squad in the bar.jpg   Inside the bar, the Suicide Squad drowns their sorrows about the end of the world. Deadshot makes a toast to " honor among thieves" prompting Katana to declare she's not one. Deadshot reminds everyone that they will be blamed for everything. When Harley asks what his deal was with Flag was, he admits to being offered his freedom and his daughter. An angry El Diablo explodes and says Lawton allowed himself to be used by Flag. Lawton states he knew but allowed it so he could have hope. El Diablo states that hope doesn't stop karma and that it's coming to him and asks Deadshot how many victims he's killed. Along with the rest of the squad, a defensive Lawton listens as Santana admits to killing his wife and kids in a fit of anger when he burned down their house. Shocked and horrified Deadshot tries to get Harley to back off Santana when she proclaims it was destined to happen because people like them do not get a normal life.

As the group continues to talk and drink as the world ends, they are joined by Flag who extends an olive branch to the group by destroying the nanodevice. He shows Deadshot what he was saving for after their mission was successful, letters from his daughter Zoe who writes him daily. Angry about that being kept from him, yet inspired and wanting to show his daughter he's a worthwhile person and not just a killer for hire, Deadshot vows to help Flag complete the mission and save Waller along with the rest of the world. As Deadshot rejoins the mission Harley follows his lead stating that she too will help and urges Katana, El Diablo, and Killer Croc to do the same, they are even rejoined by Boomerang soon after he initially bolted.

#### Facing Enchantress and Incubus

> Lady, you are EVIL!
>
> Deadshot to Enchantress, Suicide Squad

The Suicide Squad and Special Ops team come up with a tentative plan to take on Incubus and Enchantress deciding to take out the former first with a demo charge. As they make their way to the final confrontation, Flag confides in Deadshot he never believed in the concept of love until he met June Moone and he's afraid she may be lost to him. Deadshot tells him to do whatever he has to do to avoid that and that he has his back. Deadshot goes to Diablo to make sure he will fight with them and not hold back, assuring a reluctant El Diablo they may have a chance at success if he fights with them as the group's most powerful metahuman. As they approach Enchantress, she is aware of their presence and invites the group to come out into the open to face her. Deadshot grabs Harley to stop her from foolishly confronting Enchantress too soon, and points her gun away from his face as they hide with Flag behind a pillar.

To persuade the Suicide Squad to side with her, Enchantress feeds them visions of their heart's desire. For Deadshot personally, envisions killing the man he blames for his incarceration, loss of his daughter, and everything else: the Batman. Instead of being arrested the night of his apprehension, he instead imagines ending Batman's life that night and avoiding the loss of everything he held dear mainly his wealth, daughter, and freedom. When El Diablo can see past Enchantress's visions, he helps the others break free of the illusions as well including Deadshot.

 File:Deadshot vs Incubus.png
When confronted by Incubus, Deadshot runs for cover with Rick Flag because they are outmatched. Lawton and Flag are joined by El Diablo who promises to get Incubus into position so the seals can blow a bomb beneath him to kill him. Deadshot urges El Diablo to "think it through," but Santana has made up his mind and is determined to help. He vows to show Deadshot, who gave him a motivation talk earlier, "what he is" as Diablo had lost his family before and wasn't ready to lose any of his new friends and surrogate family. When El Diablo temporarily goes down confronting Incubus, Deadshot and Harley immediately put themselves in danger to help him with Deadshot shooting at Incubus only to be brutally knocked down along with others. When El Diablo reveals his true metahuman form he holds his own with Incubus and gets him into position. When Incubus regains control of the fight, Deadshot repeats El Diablo's wishes to Flag to blow the charge so that Diablo could give his life for the team and rejoin his family in death and the afterlife.

With Incubus, El Diablo, GQ, and the others dead, Deadshot looks at the Enchantress and declares she will be next. Enchantress tells Deadshot and the others despite the loss of her brother, her spell machine is completed and can wreak havoc on Earth's defenses as her darkness spreads across the globe. Deadshot asks Flag what to do before it is too late and Flag replies they have to remove the metahuman's heart to make her weak enough to be stopped. When Enchantress here's this she engages the members of Suicide Squad in a brutal battle.

 File:Deadshot saving Flag.png
She immediately knocks Deadshot down to the ground as she attacks his teammates. As Enchantress emerges again within their sights, this time with powerful two swords in each hand, she forces Deadshot to block the deathblows with his wrist guns. Overwhelming him and the others she forcefully kicks Deadshot back several feet taking him out of the fight once again. He recovers just in time to save Rick Flag by deflecting a sword blow once again using his wrist weapon. He also saves Captain Boomerang from death when he was pinned by the magical being, distracting Enchantress by using all of his remaining ammo to shoot at her back long enough to allow Croc time to throw her off their teammate.

 File:Deadshot getting ready to kill Enchantress.png
When Harley brilliantly distracts Enchantress and cuts out her heart, Deadshot calls for her gun and he's able to target and shoot a charge thrown by Killer Croc at the heart of the mystical machine destroying it and saving the world from further destruction. This was accomplished despite a last-ditch effort by Enchantress to make Deadshot see an illusion of his daughter to convince him not to shoot. He immediately tells Rick Flag to back off when he tries to hug him after his incredible shot. Colonel Flag has to kill Enchantress by crushing her heart after she refuses to bring back Dr. June Moone. Deadshot is the first to call out to Flag after he notices June still alive beneath the Enchantress husk. As Lawton returns Harley's gun to her, and the pair plot to steal a car to drive back together to Gotham City.

However, Waller reemerges with a functional nano detonation device and informs everyone the only place they are going is back to Belle Reve. Deadshot wants more than just 10 years of his prison sentence and demands to see his daughter again. Waller agrees to Lawton's request and accepts special requests from the other Suicide Squad members as well in return for them saving the world.

#### Brief reunion

 File:Deadshot with his daughter.JPG
Later on, Lawton is back in Gotham City in an apartment using his skills to help his daughter with her homework. Rick Flag, who is also there, stops U.S. Marshals from putting Deadshot back into shackles before he can say goodbye to his little girl properly. Zoe hugs her father goodbye saying she loves him. Finally feeling worthy of his daughter's love after everything he's been through recently, Deadshot mutters "I love you too" back to Zoe. Back at Belle Reve, Deadshot is seen in his cell using his punching bag, with a big pile of his daughter's letters by the window.

As Waller promised, Deadshot continues to have regular visits with Zoe.

#### Legacy

Deadshot's success in helping shepherd Task Force X's maiden mission allowed ARGUS to arrange several more missions for the group, albeit composed of different combinations of members in certain missions. At least one member, Savant was known to have heard of the phrase "Suicide Squad" coined by Deadshot, referring to the name upon joining the team.

## Personality

> You know the rules: no money, no honey.
>
> Deadshot, Suicide Squad

Deadshot is portrayed as a consummate professional: as long as he's been paid to kill someone, he will always carry it out without mercy, except women and children. He is also sarcastic and have a personal method where he has to be paid first to get his job done and will threaten his employers furthermore when he is offended, evidenced by wanting double the original payment for his job because his "client" was being a "dickhead;" alongside his sarcasm, he has an incredibly tough attitude, and can work even under the highest of pressure.

> You don't kill as many people as I've killed and still sleep like a kitten if you feel shit like love."
> "Another textbook sociopath.
>
> Deadshot and Harley Quinn, Suicide Squad

Despite his sarcastic, tough attitude, Floyd notably strikes up a friendship with Harley Quinn quite quickly, empathizes with El Diablo after learning the latter's dark secret, is greatly respected by his teammates, and has influence over them (with Rick Flag himself pointing this out), and finally he cares deeply for his beloved daughter Zoe, keeping a picture of her with him throughout his time as an assassin and inmate. He also holds a strict code about not killing women and children in his line of work, thus proving himself to have a strict moral compass. Notably, when Amanda Waller attempts to psychologically manipulate Deadshot by promising him the freedom and a permanent reunion with Zoe in exchange for assassinating Harley Quinn, he is strongly tempted for a few long moments. Ultimately, however, with quite a bit of visible effort, Deadshot realizes his unwillingness to betray his moral code of not murdering women, as well as his friendship with Harley (most likely also due to him realizing that Zoe wouldn't have ever approved of the circumstances of such a permanent reunion if she knew), and so he resists, instead pretending to miss while shooting at Harley (though Deadshot may be willing to make exceptions, to his moral code in some situations, as he plotted with Harley to kill Rick Flag and Katana and contributed to Enchantress' defeat).

Also, while not outspoken about it, Deadshot appears to be at least somewhat religious, wearing a cross while in civilian apparel and having several biblical verses written on the gauntlets and neck of his combat bodysuit.

## Abilities

* **Peak Human Condition**: Deadshot is in top physical condition (from frequent intense workouts, which he does even during his imprisonment in Belle Reve), though not even near to Batman's level. Hence, it took an entire squad of ARGUS agents with riot shields to pin down and restrain Deadshot after his cell was opened, but even then he was still able to kick two of them to the ground, despite several of them restraining his torso, and he was able to hold his own against the Eyes of the Adversary troops.
	+ **Peak Human Strength**: Deadshot is very physically strong. He can punch hard enough to crack cement. He could also rip out his chains in Chinook-2, and he broke the lock to the Golden Tree bar.
	+ **Peak Human Durability**: Deadshot is very durable, withstanding a brutal beating at the hands of ARGUS agents while in Belle Reve, and swiftly recovering after being sent flying back by a superhumanly strong blow from Incubus, though this was also due to Deadshot's bulletproof bodysuit.

> So now we have the man who never misses.
>
> Amanda Waller, Suicide Squad

* **Master Marksman**: Deadshot, as his name implies, is an almost superhumanly skilled marksman and experienced with all manner of firearms, being considered the world's deadliest marksman due to records stating he has never missed a target with the exception of Batman; he is considered an expert in the use of all firearms, including 9mm pistols, Gatling guns, revolvers, flare guns, potato cannons, machine guns, assault rifles, flamethrowers, sniper rifles, anti-tank rifles, shotguns, M1 carbines, bazookas, derringers, Uzis, grenade launchers, .44 Magnums, and muskets. Deadshot is said to be lethal at four kilometers (2.49 miles). His marksmanship surpasses the Dark Knight himself due to his proficiency with his eye scope, as well as the enhancement his high-tech eye-patch provides. He was able to easily shoot the same target numerous times in rapid succession with multiple different guns (greatly impressing Amanda Waller), and to single-handedly take down numerous monstrous troops of Enchantress, keeping the bulk of the army from advancing at the Suicide Squad (in fact doing it better single-handedly than the combined efforts of Rick Flag's entire gunmen squad, using only his machine- and wrist-mounted guns, dropping a monstrous troop with every single one of his numerous shots). Deadshot is thus one of the most formidable members of the Suicide Squad, on par with Katana and El Diablo, to whom Amanda Waller refers to as some of the most dangerous humans on Earth.
* **Expert Combatant**: Deadshot is a highly skilled and formidable hand-to-hand combatant, managing to physically overpower several of Enchantress' monstrous troops. Though he is not quite on Batman and Katana's level, as Deadshot was quite swiftly defeated and beaten to the ground by Batman (resulting in Deadshot's imprisonment in Belle Reve), and was later overpowered first by the gigantic Incubus, and then the extremely skilled and more powerful Enchantress (though he was notably able to block quite a few of her dagger slashes with his gauntlets, before being overpowered by her superior strength, skill, and teleportation).

> He's the most wanted hitman in the world. Let's say he has an elite clientele.
>
> Amanda Waller, Suicide Squad

* **Master Assassin**: Deadshot is an extremely skilled assassin, has become an infamous gun for hire ever since leaving the US Special Forces, assassinating his targets in mere seconds after a price that satisfies Deadshot is offered. Indeed, before his imprisonment by Batman, Deadshot was the most wanted hitman in the world, with him, therefore, having elite clientele.

> I give everything a lot of thought, pal. I'm the best at what I do because I think through every contingency. When the wind changes, I'm the one who knows by how much.
>
> Deadshot to Rick Flag, Suicide Squad: The Official Movie Novelization

* **Expert Tactician**: Deadshot is an expert strategist (potentially on par with Rick Flag), as he thinks through every contingency (which he credits as to why he is the best hitman) and plans out everything to the last detail. Lawton, as a former member of both the Boy Scouts and the US Special Forces, carefully prepares for his assassinations.

> These people respect you, you've got influence.
>
> Rick Flag to Deadshot, Suicide Squad

* **Skilled Leader**: Deadshot is respected by his Suicide Squad teammates, as noted by Rick Flag himself, and has a degree of influence over them. Hence, Deadshot managed to befriend and calm down Harley Quinn on several occasions, his idea of a mutiny against Flag and Katana was picked up by most of the Squad (apart from El Diablo), and Flag personally requested that Deadshot help him keep the team in line.

## Equipment

 File:DeadshotSuit.jpg
* **Combat suit**: When in the field, Deadshot dons a bulletproof red-and-black vest and bodysuit, with many holsters, containing various firearms at all times. Indeed, this suit is durable enough to help him withstand slashes from Enchantress' mystical daggers, as well as a superhumanly mighty kick from Incubus, with minimal injury.
	+ **Mask**: When in the field Deadshot generally dons a white ballistic face mask that covers his entire head and neck.
* **Monoscope**: One of Deadshot's signature trademarks is the high-tech eye-patch that he wears over his face mask, on his dominant left eye. This eye-patch augments his already amazing marksman skills, and when combined with his sniper rifle's scope, makes it almost impossible for him to miss his target. It also provides him with mission data and target data.

### Weapons

> So, that would make you have to know the angle between the building and the sidewalk. You got to know that angle. No, I mean, in real life, you have variables. You know you got rifling twist. You got chamber pressure. You got bullet weight. Some shots you'll even have to take the curvature of the Earth in with the... wind effect. You know, there's a lot of variables in the street.
>
> Floyd Lawton to Zoe Lawton, Suicide Squad

* **Deadshot's wrist magnums**: Deadshot wears gauntlets on his wrists which contain powerful machine guns. Deadshot can change the firing operation from a single shot, semi-automatic, or even fully automatic, depending on the situation he requires. The gauntlets are strong enough to deflect Enchantress's sword strikes and still be operational. To increase their efficiency, he incorporates boxing techniques; so he "punches" where he needs to aim at great speed.
* **Glock 30**: Lawton pulled this weapon during his confrontation with Batman in Gotham City.
* **Customized Glock 17**: Lawton utilizes a heavily modified Glock 17 as his preferred sidearm. Lawton also used a stock version of the pistol when demonstrating his abilities in prison.
* **Glock 18**: Besides his custom Glock 17 and Wrist Magnums, Deadshot carries two full-auto Glock 18s in dual small-of-the-back holsters.
* **Smith & Wesson SW1911**: Lawton utilized this weapon when demonstrating his abilities in prison.
* **Harley Quinn's Chiappa Rhino 60DS**: Lawton used Harley Quinn's revolver to shoot Rick Flag's bomb, which was thrown at Enchantress by Killer Croc.
* **Mk 18**: Lawton handled this assault rifle when demonstrating his abilities in prison.
* **Customized AR-15**: Deadshot's primary weapon of choice is an AR-15 assault rifle, modified with an ACOG scope and vertical foregrip. The ACOG scope is specifically modified to Deadshot's needs and can link with his eye-patch, giving him unrivaled accuracy.
* **Range arsenal**: When Floyd Lawson is tested on the range, there are an array of guns for him to use, including an M4A1, a Heckler & Koch Mark 23, an MP5K with an UMP-style stock, a TDI Kriss Vector, an MP7A1, two Smith & Wesson Model 36s, a Beretta 92, a G36C, a Glock 17, a Smith & Wesson M&P, two Beretta Px4 Storms, and a revolver.

## Relationships

Family* Older brother
* Unidentified - ex-wife
* Zoe Lawton - daughter

Allies* Angelo - former employer
* Task Force X - teammates
	+ Rick Flag † - leader, friend and respected ally
	+ Waylon Jones/Killer Croc
	+ Chato Santana/El Diablo † - savior
	+ Christopher Weiss/Slipknot †
	+ Tatsu Yamashiro/Katana
	+ Digger Harkness/Captain Boomerang †
	+ Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn - former teammate
* United States Air Force
	+ "GQ" Edwards † - former ally
	+ Gomez † - former ally
* June Moone
* Batman - apprehender
* ARGUS - exploiters
	+ Amanda Waller - boss and manipulator
* Enchantress † - indirect victim
	+ Eyes of the Adversary
* Incubus †
* Hunter Griggs - abuser
	+ Ames - abuser
* Van Criss Laboratories
	+ Van Criss † - nano-bomb implanter

## Trivia

* In the DC Extended Universe, Deadshot is African-American instead of Caucasian and wears his eyepiece over his left eye instead of his right.
* According to his record, Deadshot is lethal with a potato cannon, a flare gun, an anti-tank rifle, and a musket.
* According to him he has never felt love, and maybe the relationship with his ex-wife was asexual.
* Floyd is a fan of Phil Jackson, due to his motivational speeches.
* Unlike in DC Comics, where he has a total disregard as to whether he lives or dies, Deadshot lives for the sake of his daughter.
* During the promotion of *Suicide Squad*, Deadshot was added to the *Injustice: Gods Among Us*  mobile game by DC and  NetherRealm Studios. In the game, he mainly uses his wrist-mounted magnums, an AR-15 rifle, and a combat knife.
* According to Amanda Waller, Deadshot was the most wanted hitman in the world until he was caught by Batman.
* According to David Ayer's original script, Deadshot and Harley Quinn were supposed to be in a relationship.
* Floyd's drink of choice is bourbon.

## Behind the scenes

* Deadshot in the DC Extended Universe is the third live-action incarnation of the character, following incarnations portrayed by Bradley Stryker and Michael Rowe.
* Dennis Lafond was a stunt double for Will Smith in the role of Deadshot.
* According to his record seen in the film, Deadshot's birthday is April 12, 1978, however, according to his file on the official A.R.G.U.S. website, his birthday is December 4, 1978.
* Idris Elba was originally cast as **Deadshot** in *The Suicide Squad*, replacing Will Smith; however, Warner Bros. and James Gunn decided to re-write the character into Bloodsport, another skilled marksman and assassin, in order to allow Smith to return in future movies.
	+ Elements of Floyd Lawton's character remained in Bloodsport for the final script of *The Suicide Squad*, such as a desire to be a proper father.

## References

Ayer, David (writer and director) (August 5, 2016). *Suicide Squad*.
2. ↑ *Time Out Shortlist Gotham and Metropolis*
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Wolfman, Marv (August 5, 2016). *Suicide Squad: The Official Movie Novelization*. Great Britain: Titan Books.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Amanda Waller's top secret file
Gunn, James (writer and director) (August 6, 2021). *The Suicide Squad*.
6. ↑ *Suicide Squad* cards
7. ↑ David Ayer's Tweet

## External links

The ***DC Extended Universe Wiki** has a collection of images and media related to* **Deadshot***.*
* File:Favicon.png Deadshot on DC Database
* File:WP favicon.png Deadshot on Wikipedia

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