In various embodiments, a stapling assembly is disclosed. The stapling assembly comprises, among other things, an anvil configured to deform staples. The anvil comprises a tissue-engaging surface and a pair of forming pockets defined in the tissue-engaging surface and aligned along a longitudinal pocket axis, wherein the pair of forming pockets is configured to deform corresponding legs of a staple. The pair of forming pockets comprises a proximal forming pocket and a distal forming pocket. Each pocket comprises a pair of sidewalls extending between the forming surface and the tissue-engaging surface. Each sidewall comprises discrete sidewall portions oriented at different angles with respect to the tissue-engaging surface.
