When a passive ability kicks in to create a special tile, normally the power’s animation plays, then the tile glows, then it’s converted to a special tile. In R110, for powers that create special tiles at the start of the player’s turn, that is reversed – the tile glows, then the animation plays, then it converts. Iron Fist’s Exquisite Technique and Luke Cape’s Unbreakable are the easiest examples to observe.
Okay, this isn’t just affecting passives - you can also see it on 2* Magneto’s Iron Hammer power. When the countdown goes off the tiles that are about to be destroyed will flash, then the animation plays, then they disappear.
Two patches later this is still happening and it’s still annoying as tinykitty.