Hoplite's base pierce armor is 25%, reducing 20% of incoming damage. Multiple sources of armor stack multiplicatively, so 25% base and 50% from the Hoplite Champion upgrade should result in 87.5% of pierce armor, reducing 46.66% of incoming damage. Instead, after researching the upgrade it results in 56.25% pierce armor, reducing 36% of incoming damage, just like if the upgrade is giving 25% pierce armor instead of the expected 50%.

