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, wherein the pair of forming pockets are configured to deform corresponding legs of a staple. The pair of forming pockets comprises a longitudinal pocket axis, an intermediate axis comprising a center point, a proximal forming pocket, and a distal forming pocket, wherein the pair of forming pockets are bilaterally asymmetric with respect to the longitudinal pocket axis and the intermediate axis, and wherein the pair of forming pockets are rotationally asymmetric with respect to the center point.
