Happens rarely, but when ever it happens, breaks the game. In some rounds we have 4-5 boilers at the same time. It is literally impossible to counter them.
'jUSt uSe cAS' you say. Yeah sure. Since they implemented directional warnings, CAS, OB and mortar deaths are down by 50% at least or more. At this point all xenos know to disable combat text so skyfires won't get spammed away. But now with this new update, only a few XXs get blasted to shreds and nothing else. I'm saying this form experience. I also used to die to silent OB due to the bug that it was simply mute (still occurs) or from the fact that I was running in too fast from off-screen and I didn't get the chat massage that skyfire ins inbound.
But since the update, as a xeno It's WAAAAAY too easy to dodge any skyfire. Especially as a boiler as you have all the time you need to move as you are not distracted by meleeing. The only way I used to die as a boiler as I had to guess which direction will the OB fall, sometimes I was wrong and I got hit. But since the huge nerf, I have all the time and more to move.
Now when there are so many boilers, that is a guarantee that they will bunch up, so scout will be in trouble if it even attempts to kill one as he can only pick up solo T1s maybe a solo hivelord or carrier.
So that leaves with an inci sniper that is decent at harassing, but not much more. Soon as we have a drone on hivelord on sight, sniper is useless.
I played both with and against 3-5 boilers and I'm telling you, it can not be countered if xenos have more than 10 IQ. When Hydro gets gassed by 4 boilers, you can simply not push out, as you will die imiidately from fire (or you know...the warriors and spitters waiting for you with the boilers). You simply can't repair cades as they will slowly melt. Any attempt to even get close will get you instakilled. Only 2 gas boilers can lock down an entire cadeline, but 3 or 4 can even lock down the entire hydro. And with what downside? Literally zero risk.
I think this is one of those things where people play in theory and say things like just do this or try this. But it does not work. As soon as xenos have 4 boilers, the round is over. And the other 15 combat xenos are still there waiting for the few brave ones to try run out for a flank. Not that it even matters as good luck running through a 10*10 field of gas that will be spammed at you while the other 15 xenos shred you.
Solution? No solution. I would say cap out max boilers at 2. But we know CM will never do that. Luckily the strongest T3 in the game is the most boring to play so this rarely happens. But when it does...I just ghost and watch as they win. Literally no point finishing the round.