It's not a wildly ambitious way of playing, but it smothers opponents, bottles them up to the point where frustration can set in and silly, impetuous decisions are made in response.
Gatland's made the formula work with Wales and the personnel he has picked are the biggest clue it's what is coming from the Lions.
The tight five is loaded with bruisers - athletic bruisers who are all set-piece efficient. Super efficient.
A few of them, Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje and Rory Best, carry the ball well but continuity isn't high in their thinking when they do so. They aren't coming to learn the finer art of playing with the ball - they will be here to win it, hold it, nudge forward and then release it.
The predominant option for the Lions numbers nine and 10 - most likely Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton - will be to kick. Gatland will want to see variation in that: a mix of contestable bombs, turning the All Blacks and putting the ball out.
Whatever the type of kick the objective will be clear: to force the All Blacks deep into their own territory and to create the prospect of the Lions using their set-piece and physicality to win kickable penalties.
When the Lions do move the ball, it will mostly be to crash it up the middle. Gatland is taking five midfielders, four of whom are essentially big men, who carry hard and straight, get over the gainline and recycle.
These will be the go-to plays and eventually, by attrition, some space may open up deep in the All Blacks' territory and that's when the Lions will push the ball wide.
And as much as the personnel selected alludes to the gameplan, so too does history. As All Blacks coach Steve Hansen observed about Gatland: "I've never seen him do anything else other than that. I guess we need to be prepared for what we normally get and prepare for something different as well. All come out when he selects his test team.
"He's done most of his coaching up north got a particular style he likes which works for him up there using big ball carriers up front, big midfielders to carry. It tells you what his mindset is, how wants to play, if he shoves Ben Te'o to No. 12. You will see Ben carrying strong up the middle a la Jamie Roberts for years for Wales."