Although Mormon does not say so, Moroni apparently had blunted Ammoron’s attack, holding the army sufficiently in check that he can march north to Bountiful to assist Teancum on the eastern front. It is urgent to break the Lamanite stranglehold, based on their strong base of operations in the fortified cities. Obviously, they could withstand a longer-term conflict than Ammoron’s army. The city of Mulek appears to house the largest of the Lamanite divisions.