A staple cartridge (230, 2020, 2620, 3420, 3520, 3620, 6000, 6500), comprising: a cartridge body (2024, 2624, 3424, 3524, 3624, 6002, 6502), wherein a plurality of staple cavities (270a, 270b, 270c, 2028, 2628, 3428, 3528, 3628, 6012, 6022, 6032, 6512, 6522, 6532) are defined into the cartridge body, and wherein a longitudinal slot (234, 2032, 2632, 3432, 3532, 3632, 6006, 6506) is defined at least partially through the cartridge body; and a plurality of staples (280a - c, 1080a - d, 1180a - d, 2012, 2612, 3412, 3512, 3612, removably positioned in the staple cavities, wherein each of said plurality of staples includes two staple legs (283a - c, 285 a - c, 2616, 2618, 6545, 6547) that extend from a crown, wherein the plurality of staples comprises a first staple (280a, 1080a, 1180a, 2612a) and a second staple (280b, 1080b, 1180b, 2612b), wherein said plurality of staples are arranged so that the crowns of the staples do not cross; wherein each of the staples is deformable from an unfired configuration to a fired configuration, wherein the first staple comprises a first formed height when in the fired configuration, wherein the second staple comprises a second formed height when in the fired configuration, wherein the first formed height is different than the second formed height, and wherein the first staple is laterally offset from the second staple to provide laterally variable tissue compression within the staple array; characterized in that each of the staples is oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal slot, and wherein the plurality of staples are arranged to form an array of angled staples within stapled tissue. a cartridge body (2024, 2624, 3424, 3524, 3624, 6002, 6502), wherein a plurality of staple cavities (270a, 270b, 270c, 2028, 2628, 3428, 3528, 3628, 6012, 6022, 6032, 6512, 6522, 6532) are defined into the cartridge body, and wherein a longitudinal slot (234, 2032, 2632, 3432, 3532, 3632, 6006, 6506) is defined at least partially through the cartridge body; and a plurality of staples (280a - c, 1080a - d, 1180a - d, 2012, 2612, 3412, 3512, 3612, removably positioned in the staple cavities, wherein each of said plurality of staples includes two staple legs (283a - c, 285 a - c, 2616, 2618, 6545, 6547) that extend from a crown, wherein the plurality of staples comprises a first staple (280a, 1080a, 1180a, 2612a) and a second staple (280b, 1080b, 1180b, 2612b), wherein said plurality of staples are arranged so that the crowns of the staples do not cross; wherein each of the staples is deformable from an unfired configuration to a fired configuration, wherein the first staple comprises a first formed height when in the fired configuration, wherein the second staple comprises a second formed height when in the fired configuration, wherein the first formed height is different than the second formed height, and wherein the first staple is laterally offset from the second staple to provide laterally variable tissue compression within the staple array; characterized in that each of the staples is oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal slot, and wherein the plurality of staples are arranged to form an array of angled staples within stapled tissue.