An end effector, comprising: an elongated channel configured to be operably coupled to a portion of an elongated shaft assembly of a surgical instrument; a staple cartridge (900;900') supported in said elongated channel, said staple cartridge having a cartridge body supporting at least one line of staples therein, each said staple having a staple base and a pair of staple legs protruding therefrom and wherein said staples in at least one of said at least one line of staples being oriented in a predetermined, substantially zigzag pattern relative to each other such that an axis of said staple base of one said staple is substantially transverse to another axis of another said staple base of an adjacent said staple; and an anvil movably supported relative to said elongated channel, said anvil being selectively movable from an open position wherein a staple forming surface thereof is spaced away from said staple cartridge to closed positions relative to said staple cartridge in response to firing motions applied to said anvil from said elongated shaft, said anvil having at least one common anvil pocket formed therein that has a substantial zigzag shape corresponding to one of said at least one line of staples in said staple cartridge; wherein said at least one common anvil pocket comprises a series of v-shaped pockets and a series of inverted v-shaped pockets laterally offset from each other such that when the anvil is brought into forming contact with the staples, the distal leg of one staple shares the same v-shaped or inverted v-shaped pocket as the proximal leg of the next staple longitudinally such that the legs of said one staple and next staple are formed in orthogonal non-interlocking directions. an elongated channel configured to be operably coupled to a portion of an elongated shaft assembly of a surgical instrument; a staple cartridge (900;900') supported in said elongated channel, said staple cartridge having a cartridge body supporting at least one line of staples therein, each said staple having a staple base and a pair of staple legs protruding therefrom and wherein said staples in at least one of said at least one line of staples being oriented in a predetermined, substantially zigzag pattern relative to each other such that an axis of said staple base of one said staple is substantially transverse to another axis of another said staple base of an adjacent said staple; and an anvil movably supported relative to said elongated channel, said anvil being selectively movable from an open position wherein a staple forming surface thereof is spaced away from said staple cartridge to closed positions relative to said staple cartridge in response to firing motions applied to said anvil from said elongated shaft, said anvil having at least one common anvil pocket formed therein that has a substantial zigzag shape corresponding to one of said at least one line of staples in said staple cartridge; wherein said at least one common anvil pocket comprises a series of v-shaped pockets and a series of inverted v-shaped pockets laterally offset from each other such that when the anvil is brought into forming contact with the staples, the distal leg of one staple shares the same v-shaped or inverted v-shaped pocket as the proximal leg of the next staple longitudinally such that the legs of said one staple and next staple are formed in orthogonal non-interlocking directions.