diff --git a/src/compiler/transformers/declarations.ts b/src/compiler/transformers/declarations.ts
index 7c41bcccc3e7a..7779359da5f3a 100644
--- a/src/compiler/transformers/declarations.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/transformers/declarations.ts
@@ -1657,38 +1657,34 @@ export function transformDeclarations(context: TransformationContext): Transform
 
                 const extendsClause = getEffectiveBaseTypeNode(input);
                 if (extendsClause && !isEntityNameExpression(extendsClause.expression) && extendsClause.expression.kind !== SyntaxKind.NullKeyword) {
-                    // We must add a temporary declaration for the extends clause expression
+                    // For classes which get their base type from an expression other than a name or Null, replace the expression they extend with one of the form:
+                    // declare class A extends ({} as DEFINITION_OF_BASE_HERE) {}
 
-                    const oldId = input.name ? unescapeLeadingUnderscores(input.name.escapedText) : "default";
-                    const newId = factory.createUniqueName(`${oldId}_base`, GeneratedIdentifierFlags.Optimistic);
                     getSymbolAccessibilityDiagnostic = () => ({
                         diagnosticMessage: Diagnostics.extends_clause_of_exported_class_0_has_or_is_using_private_name_1,
                         errorNode: extendsClause,
                         typeName: input.name,
                     });
-                    const varDecl = factory.createVariableDeclaration(newId, /*exclamationToken*/ undefined, resolver.createTypeOfExpression(extendsClause.expression, input, declarationEmitNodeBuilderFlags, declarationEmitInternalNodeBuilderFlags, symbolTracker), /*initializer*/ undefined);
-                    const statement = factory.createVariableStatement(needsDeclare ? [factory.createModifier(SyntaxKind.DeclareKeyword)] : [], factory.createVariableDeclarationList([varDecl], NodeFlags.Const));
+                    const baseType = resolver.createTypeOfExpression(extendsClause.expression, input, declarationEmitNodeBuilderFlags, declarationEmitInternalNodeBuilderFlags, symbolTracker);
+                    const extendsExpression = factory.createAsExpression(factory.createObjectLiteralExpression(), baseType!); // TODO: GH#18217
                     const heritageClauses = factory.createNodeArray(map(input.heritageClauses, clause => {
                         if (clause.token === SyntaxKind.ExtendsKeyword) {
                             const oldDiag = getSymbolAccessibilityDiagnostic;
                             getSymbolAccessibilityDiagnostic = createGetSymbolAccessibilityDiagnosticForNode(clause.types[0]);
-                            const newClause = factory.updateHeritageClause(clause, map(clause.types, t => factory.updateExpressionWithTypeArguments(t, newId, visitNodes(t.typeArguments, visitDeclarationSubtree, isTypeNode))));
+                            const newClause = factory.updateHeritageClause(clause, map(clause.types, t => factory.updateExpressionWithTypeArguments(t, extendsExpression, visitNodes(t.typeArguments, visitDeclarationSubtree, isTypeNode))));
                             getSymbolAccessibilityDiagnostic = oldDiag;
                             return newClause;
                         }
                         return factory.updateHeritageClause(clause, visitNodes(factory.createNodeArray(filter(clause.types, t => isEntityNameExpression(t.expression) || t.expression.kind === SyntaxKind.NullKeyword)), visitDeclarationSubtree, isExpressionWithTypeArguments));
                     }));
-                    return [
-                        statement,
-                        cleanup(factory.updateClassDeclaration(
-                            input,
-                            modifiers,
-                            input.name,
-                            typeParameters,
-                            heritageClauses,
-                            members,
-                        ))!,
-                    ]; // TODO: GH#18217
+                    return cleanup(factory.updateClassDeclaration(
+                        input,
+                        modifiers,
+                        input.name,
+                        typeParameters,
+                        heritageClauses,
+                        members,
+                    ));
                 }
                 else {
                     const heritageClauses = transformHeritageClauses(input.heritageClauses);
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/amdDeclarationEmitNoExtraDeclare.js b/tests/baselines/reference/amdDeclarationEmitNoExtraDeclare.js
index ad02552328f0e..bd5192f19cedc 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/amdDeclarationEmitNoExtraDeclare.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/amdDeclarationEmitNoExtraDeclare.js
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ declare module "Configurable" {
 declare module "Class" {
     export class HiddenClass {
     }
-    const ActualClass_base: typeof HiddenClass;
-    export class ActualClass extends ActualClass_base {
+    export class ActualClass extends ({} as typeof HiddenClass) {
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/anonClassDeclarationEmitIsAnon.js b/tests/baselines/reference/anonClassDeclarationEmitIsAnon.js
index 2c0dc04e17776..d69d45b6e3eef 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/anonClassDeclarationEmitIsAnon.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/anonClassDeclarationEmitIsAnon.js
@@ -137,11 +137,10 @@ export default _default;
 export declare class User {
     name: string;
 }
-declare const TimestampedUser_base: {
+export declare class TimestampedUser extends ({} as {
     new (...args: any[]): {
         timestamp: number;
     };
-} & typeof User;
-export declare class TimestampedUser extends TimestampedUser_base {
+} & typeof User) {
     constructor();
 }
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/classReferencedInContextualParameterWithinItsOwnBaseExpression.js b/tests/baselines/reference/classReferencedInContextualParameterWithinItsOwnBaseExpression.js
index 8674d45fd0b91..11df41642717e 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/classReferencedInContextualParameterWithinItsOwnBaseExpression.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/classReferencedInContextualParameterWithinItsOwnBaseExpression.js
@@ -60,9 +60,8 @@ type OutputFrom<TFields> = {
     [K in keyof TFields]: "_TOutput" extends keyof TFields[K] ? TFields[K]["_TOutput"] : never;
 };
 declare function string(): Type<string>;
-declare const A_base: Class<OutputFrom<{
+export declare class A extends ({} as Class<OutputFrom<{
     a: typeof string;
-}>>;
-export declare class A extends A_base {
+}>>) {
 }
 export {};
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitClassMixinLocalClassDeclaration.js b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitClassMixinLocalClassDeclaration.js
index 9ac2030ef1623..821269704c4d9 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitClassMixinLocalClassDeclaration.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitClassMixinLocalClassDeclaration.js
@@ -80,11 +80,10 @@ type MixinHelperFunc = <A extends AnyConstructor, T>(required: [A], arg: T) => T
 export declare const Mixin: MixinHelperFunc;
 export declare class Base {
 }
-declare const XmlElement2_base: {
+export declare class XmlElement2 extends ({} as {
     new (): {
         num: number;
     };
-};
-export declare class XmlElement2 extends XmlElement2_base {
+}) {
 }
 export {};
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends2.js b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends2.js
index e7ee7c34a4100..7ff1b7999f677 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends2.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends2.js
@@ -52,6 +52,5 @@ declare class C<T, U> {
     y: U;
 }
 declare function getClass<T>(c: T): typeof C;
-declare const MyClass_base: typeof C;
-declare class MyClass extends MyClass_base<string, number> {
+declare class MyClass extends ({} as typeof C)<string, number> {
 }
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends3.js b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends3.js
index c102652410aef..a1f231768a3cb 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends3.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends3.js
@@ -128,16 +128,12 @@ export interface ExportedInterface {
 interface LocalInterface {
     x: number;
 }
-declare const MyClass_base: typeof LocalClass;
-export declare class MyClass extends MyClass_base<string, number> {
+export declare class MyClass extends ({} as typeof LocalClass)<string, number> {
 }
-declare const MyClass2_base: typeof ExportedClass;
-export declare class MyClass2 extends MyClass2_base<string> {
+export declare class MyClass2 extends ({} as typeof ExportedClass)<string> {
 }
-declare const MyClass3_base: typeof ExportedClass;
-export declare class MyClass3 extends MyClass3_base<LocalInterface> {
+export declare class MyClass3 extends ({} as typeof ExportedClass)<LocalInterface> {
 }
-declare const MyClass4_base: typeof ExportedClass;
-export declare class MyClass4 extends MyClass4_base<ExportedInterface> {
+export declare class MyClass4 extends ({} as typeof ExportedClass)<ExportedInterface> {
 }
 export {};
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends4.js b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends4.js
index a5d57ceb73c95..795965745f291 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends4.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends4.js
@@ -68,13 +68,11 @@ var C3 = /** @class */ (function (_super) {
 declare function getSomething(): {
     new (): {};
 };
-declare const C_base: {
+declare class C extends ({} as {
     new (): {};
-};
-declare class C extends C_base<number, string> {
+})<number, string> {
 }
-declare const C2_base: any;
-declare class C2 extends C2_base<number, string> {
+declare class C2 extends ({} as any)<number, string> {
 }
 declare class C3 extends SomeUndefinedFunction {
 }
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends5.js b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends5.js
index 19659fdefec3f..5e52b58f67f76 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends5.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitExpressionInExtends5.js
@@ -63,13 +63,11 @@ var Test;
 
 //// [declarationEmitExpressionInExtends5.d.ts]
 declare namespace Test {
-    export interface IFace {
+    interface IFace {
     }
-    export class SomeClass implements IFace {
+    class SomeClass implements IFace {
     }
-    const Derived_base: new () => IFace;
-    export class Derived extends Derived_base {
+    class Derived extends ({} as new () => IFace) {
     }
-    export function getClass<T>(): new () => T;
-    export {};
+    function getClass<T>(): new () => T;
 }
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitForDefaultExportClassExtendingExpression01.js b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitForDefaultExportClassExtendingExpression01.js
index 648c22ec1da8d..82cd6712d7f32 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitForDefaultExportClassExtendingExpression01.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitForDefaultExportClassExtendingExpression01.js
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ interface Greeter {
 interface GreeterConstructor {
     new (): Greeter;
 }
-declare const default_base: GreeterConstructor;
-export default class extends default_base {
+export default class extends ({} as GreeterConstructor) {
 }
 export {};
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitLocalClassDeclarationMixin.js b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitLocalClassDeclarationMixin.js
index 3e589f2f7a987..47aa9c0ab45e5 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitLocalClassDeclarationMixin.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationEmitLocalClassDeclarationMixin.js
@@ -106,11 +106,9 @@ export declare const Mixed: {
         bar: number;
     };
 } & typeof Unmixed;
-declare const FilteredThing_base: (abstract new (...args: any[]) => {
+export declare class FilteredThing extends ({} as (abstract new (...args: any[]) => {
     match(path: string): boolean;
     thing: number;
-}) & typeof Unmixed;
-export declare class FilteredThing extends FilteredThing_base {
+}) & typeof Unmixed) {
     match(path: string): boolean;
 }
-export {};
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationNoDanglingGenerics.js b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationNoDanglingGenerics.js
index 006417922eaaa..5ddfd09e9be1b 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/declarationNoDanglingGenerics.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/declarationNoDanglingGenerics.js
@@ -107,28 +107,24 @@ exports.CKind = CKind;
 
 
 //// [declarationNoDanglingGenerics.d.ts]
-declare const AKind_base: {
+export declare class AKind extends ({} as {
     new (): {
         readonly kind: "A";
     };
     readonly THE_KIND: "A";
-};
-export declare class AKind extends AKind_base {
+}) {
 }
-declare const BKind_base: {
+export declare class BKind extends ({} as {
     new (): {
         readonly kind: "B";
     };
     readonly THE_KIND: "B";
-};
-export declare class BKind extends BKind_base {
+}) {
 }
-declare const CKind_base: {
+export declare class CKind extends ({} as {
     new (): {
         readonly kind: "C";
     };
     readonly THE_KIND: "C";
-};
-export declare class CKind extends CKind_base {
+}) {
 }
-export {};
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/emitClassExpressionInDeclarationFile.js b/tests/baselines/reference/emitClassExpressionInDeclarationFile.js
index c77c114490044..e2dfc834ee862 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/emitClassExpressionInDeclarationFile.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/emitClassExpressionInDeclarationFile.js
@@ -128,14 +128,12 @@ export declare function WithTags<T extends Constructor<FooItem>>(Base: T): {
     };
     getTags(): void;
 } & T;
-declare const Test_base: {
+export declare class Test extends ({} as {
     new (...args: any[]): {
         tags(): void;
         foo(): void;
         name?: string;
     };
     getTags(): void;
-} & typeof FooItem;
-export declare class Test extends Test_base {
+} & typeof FooItem) {
 }
-export {};
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/exportClassExtendingIntersection.js b/tests/baselines/reference/exportClassExtendingIntersection.js
index ebf41f7c14932..131f58a1f5a96 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/exportClassExtendingIntersection.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/exportClassExtendingIntersection.js
@@ -126,10 +126,8 @@ export declare function MyMixin<T extends Constructor<MyBaseClass<any>>>(base: T
 //// [FinalClass.d.ts]
 import { MyBaseClass } from './BaseClass';
 import { MyMixin } from './MixinClass';
-declare const MyExtendedClass_base: typeof MyBaseClass & import("./BaseClass").Constructor<MyMixin>;
-export declare class MyExtendedClass extends MyExtendedClass_base<string> {
+export declare class MyExtendedClass extends ({} as typeof MyBaseClass & import("./BaseClass").Constructor<MyMixin>)<string> {
     extendedClassProperty: number;
 }
-export {};
 //// [Main.d.ts]
 export {};
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAbstractClasses.js b/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAbstractClasses.js
index e787c467451bf..0990747bbac49 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAbstractClasses.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAbstractClasses.js
@@ -73,12 +73,10 @@ declare class ConcreteBase {
 declare abstract class AbstractBase {
     abstract abstractBaseMethod(): void;
 }
-declare const DerivedFromConcrete_base: typeof ConcreteBase & (abstract new (...args: any) => Mixin);
-declare class DerivedFromConcrete extends DerivedFromConcrete_base {
+declare class DerivedFromConcrete extends ({} as typeof ConcreteBase & (abstract new (...args: any) => Mixin)) {
 }
 declare const wasConcrete: DerivedFromConcrete;
-declare const DerivedFromAbstract_base: typeof AbstractBase & (abstract new (...args: any) => Mixin);
-declare class DerivedFromAbstract extends DerivedFromAbstract_base {
+declare class DerivedFromAbstract extends ({} as typeof AbstractBase & (abstract new (...args: any) => Mixin)) {
     abstractBaseMethod(): void;
 }
 declare const wasAbstract: DerivedFromAbstract;
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAbstractClassesReturnTypeInference.js b/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAbstractClassesReturnTypeInference.js
index 98bfeaf3a3105..11bc1936c7462 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAbstractClassesReturnTypeInference.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAbstractClassesReturnTypeInference.js
@@ -54,12 +54,11 @@ declare function Mixin2<TBase extends abstract new (...args: any[]) => any>(base
 }) & {
     staticMixinMethod(): void;
 }) & TBase;
-declare const DerivedFromAbstract2_base: ((abstract new (...args: any[]) => {
+declare class DerivedFromAbstract2 extends ({} as ((abstract new (...args: any[]) => {
     [x: string]: any;
     mixinMethod(): void;
 }) & {
     staticMixinMethod(): void;
-}) & typeof AbstractBase;
-declare class DerivedFromAbstract2 extends DerivedFromAbstract2_base {
+}) & typeof AbstractBase) {
     abstractBaseMethod(): void;
 }
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAccessModifiers.js b/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAccessModifiers.js
index 1effc9954afb8..31e08fd4500e0 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAccessModifiers.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/mixinAccessModifiers.js
@@ -360,27 +360,21 @@ declare function f4(x: Protected & Protected2): void;
 declare function f5(x: Protected & Public): void;
 declare function f6(x: Public & Public2): void;
 declare function Mix<T, U>(c1: T, c2: U): T & U;
-declare const C1_base: typeof Private & typeof Private2;
-declare class C1 extends C1_base {
+declare class C1 extends ({} as typeof Private & typeof Private2) {
 }
-declare const C2_base: typeof Private & typeof Protected;
-declare class C2 extends C2_base {
+declare class C2 extends ({} as typeof Private & typeof Protected) {
 }
-declare const C3_base: typeof Private & typeof Public;
-declare class C3 extends C3_base {
+declare class C3 extends ({} as typeof Private & typeof Public) {
 }
-declare const C4_base: typeof Protected & typeof Protected2;
-declare class C4 extends C4_base {
+declare class C4 extends ({} as typeof Protected & typeof Protected2) {
     f(c4: C4, c5: C5, c6: C6): void;
     static g(): void;
 }
-declare const C5_base: typeof Protected & typeof Public;
-declare class C5 extends C5_base {
+declare class C5 extends ({} as typeof Protected & typeof Public) {
     f(c4: C4, c5: C5, c6: C6): void;
     static g(): void;
 }
-declare const C6_base: typeof Public & typeof Public2;
-declare class C6 extends C6_base {
+declare class C6 extends ({} as typeof Public & typeof Public2) {
     f(c4: C4, c5: C5, c6: C6): void;
     static g(): void;
 }
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/override1.js b/tests/baselines/reference/override1.js
index 6ad18ccc5a119..187fc51655d7a 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/override1.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/override1.js
@@ -144,13 +144,12 @@ declare function f(): {
         bar(v: string): void;
     };
 };
-declare const E_base: {
+declare class E extends ({} as {
     new (): {
         foo(): void;
         bar(): void;
     };
-};
-declare class E extends E_base {
+}) {
     foo(): void;
     bar(): void;
     baz(): void;
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/recursiveClassBaseType.js b/tests/baselines/reference/recursiveClassBaseType.js
index fbfe9c9dee590..0d5af85533ebc 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/recursiveClassBaseType.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/recursiveClassBaseType.js
@@ -77,18 +77,16 @@ declare const p: <T>(fn: () => T) => T;
 declare const Base: <T>(val: T) => {
     new (): T;
 };
-declare const C_base: new () => {
+declare class C extends ({} as new () => {
     x: C[];
-};
-declare class C extends C_base {
+}) {
 }
 declare abstract class Base1 {
     abstract root(): Derived1;
 }
-declare const Derived1_base: {
+declare class Derived1 extends ({} as {
     new (): {
         root(): any;
     };
-};
-declare class Derived1 extends Derived1_base {
+}) {
 }
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/tsc/declarationEmit/when-using-Windows-paths-and-uppercase-letters.js b/tests/baselines/reference/tsc/declarationEmit/when-using-Windows-paths-and-uppercase-letters.js
index 448760fe05df2..8779257333fa0 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/tsc/declarationEmit/when-using-Windows-paths-and-uppercase-letters.js
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/tsc/declarationEmit/when-using-Windows-paths-and-uppercase-letters.js
@@ -172,11 +172,9 @@ exports.Sub = Sub;
 //# sourceMappingURL=main.js.map
 
 //// [D:/Work/pkg1/dist/main.d.ts]
-declare const Sub_base: import("./utils/type-helpers").MyReturnType;
-export declare class Sub extends Sub_base {
+export declare class Sub extends ({} as import("./utils/type-helpers").MyReturnType) {
     id: string;
 }
-export {};