I’ve noticed changes in sweeps and other hit confirms lately, maybe because of the heavies hitting armour ? Not sure, but I do think they made the effect more visible. I’m seeying like strays of lighthing. Has anyone else noticed it?
Can’t say that I have. 
Are you doing heavy moves during Armor?
I saw them while watching ECT top 8. It’s an effect when you do heavies most of the time, not specifically during armor. I honestly don’t get why they added this. To much effects on screen confuse me. But well, that’s me =S
I saw it during a match between Fulgore and Sadira and also Maya - Wulf, no armour here so it’s not that. Even a sweep may show this once in a while. Just wondering what is the goal of this effect. I get it when we talk about armour, but simple normals?
I really can’t say I have either. Can you locate the video that has it?
For instance:
55:22 Hit confirm (rays of light) on the head
58:22 shadow hitconfirm effect (Sadira vs Fulgore)
BTW I don’t remember Fulgores attack were so glowy in instinct
1:11:12 Maya jumping heavy confirm effect
1:11:38 shadow counter pretty visible (new?)
As far as I can see I thought it was counter hits but they don’t trigger all the time. Maybe is only heavies and shadows counter hits? But it’s not triggered all the time in similar situations either so I can’t say what it stands for
The shadow counter thing, I’m not sure. But I do see that a lot. Maybe it’s a bug? Or it’s a property of the Shadow Counter that Kinda acts like armor, so when a heavy hits it, it does the “Armor Spark.”