# What does Z13 say? · Zodiac ciphers > Four answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Four are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/zodiac-ciphers/questions/QST0D71PEE83PWE/what-does-z13-say Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:59:10+00:00 --- **0** # What does Z13 say? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Four answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Four are still possible. ## Why it matters Z13 follows "My name is" and is the cipher most often claimed to name the killer. It has 13 symbols, too few for any substitution reading to be unique⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D71P64M215H/the-solution-of-the-zodiac-killers-340-character-cipher)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D71P7VA13XB/z13-solutions). ## Answers 4 [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/zodiac-ciphers/answers/ANS0D71PJTW7JPJ/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**Z13 does not encode a name; it is a taunt or meaningless.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/zodiac-ciphers/answers/ANS0D71PJB87R91/z13-does-not-encode-a-name-it-is-a-taunt-or-meaningless) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**Z13 is a simple substitution of the writer's name or alias.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/zodiac-ciphers/answers/ANS0D71PHC06HYE/z13-is-a-simple-substitution-of-the-writers-name-or-alias) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 against Still possible [**Z13 uses a further step (transposition, nulls, or a key unlike Z408's), as Z340 did.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/zodiac-ciphers/answers/ANS0D71PHVM3PW3/z13-uses-a-further-step-transposition-nulls-or-a-key-unlike) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 1970[Avery puts forward: z13 is a simple substitution of the writer's name or alias.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D71P7BP64G3/zodiac-sends-new-letter-claims-ten) 1. 2024[Oranchak et al. puts forward: z13 uses a further step (transposition, nulls, or a key unlike Z408's), as Z340 did.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D71P64M215H/the-solution-of-the-zodiac-killers-340-character-cipher) 1. 2024[Oranchak et al. puts forward: z13 does not encode a name; it is a taunt or meaningless.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D71P64M215H/the-solution-of-the-zodiac-killers-340-character-cipher) 1. 2024[Oranchak et al.: z340 showed the writer added transposition and irregularities to homophonic substitution.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D71P64M215H/the-solution-of-the-zodiac-killers-340-character-cipher)For: Z13 uses a further step (transposition, nulls, or a key unlike Z408's), as Z340 did. 1. 2024[Oranchak et al.: z408 explicitly refuses to give his name, and Z340 contains none.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D71P64M215H/the-solution-of-the-zodiac-killers-340-character-cipher)For: Z13 does not encode a name; it is a taunt or meaningless. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/zodiac-ciphers/questions/QST0D71PEE83PWE/what-does-z13-say%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/zodiac-ciphers/questions/QST0D71PEE83PWE/what-does-z13-say%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/zodiac-ciphers/questions/QST0D71PEE83PWE/what-does-z13-say%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/zodiac-ciphers/questions/QST0D71PEE83PWE/what-does-z13-say%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/zodiac-ciphers/questions/QST0D71PEE83PWE/what-does-z13-say%23add-source) Where it fits Zodiac ciphers **What does Z13 say?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]