This game still hurts my brain

Are dead ends more likely to spawn EP? Something that I noticed at some point. And after I started to avoid dead ends I am kinda getting less EP spawns. Or it's just random?

The amount of EPs to spawn in a Catacomb or Map when FIRST creating either, has an RNG % chance for +X EPs or any other modifiers including Objectives.

Example of Objectives. You create a catacomb, you have 3 Objectives listed: Pinch, Hack the Horde & Treasure Pest ... the RNG % chance of either 0, 1, 2 or 3 of those objectives will spawn... and yes, you can complete a catacomb and get 0 Objectives. This also implies the size (dimension) of the Catacomb or Map can influence them.

Example of EPs, you create a catacomb @ level 10 (dimension 09w x 07h) and you clear it, but never come across an Evil Presence... you may come across Warm Lights & Spins, maybe even 2 Wells or 3 Treasure Chests... but 0 Evil Presence. Note: since you do not come across an EP, this means you can not complete Pinch if listed as your Objective. Bits & Hack should be fine, however, it may not come to light either.

This goes with all modifiers. Good luck and have fun.

Thanks for the comprehensive reply. If I stumble upon 3 EPs, does it mean I have less chance to find ones in this maze? Shall I reset the catacombs then? How many EPs can one maze roll?

Dimension size of catacomb with RNG % chance of number of EPs in a Normal Catacomb, you can use maps, preferably level 5 (Tier IV) + with +X number of Evil Presence to give you more success ... best example is if you Map has +5 Evil Presence, you will get a minimum of 5 EP waves, you could also get 8 EP waves in that Map maze. Note: last square of a Map will override a map modifier like +Well, +Warm Light, +EP since it is automatically a Treasure Chest at the end of a Map.

As for normal catacombs, I would explore more... just in case, at higher level catacombs, if backtracking takes forever and you keep getting spun to explored areas repeatedly, I would most likely make a new catacomb and start fresh.

Goodluck and have fun.