diff --git a/evennia/commands/default/building.py b/evennia/commands/default/building.py
index 77b704356c..bbbfe42b7f 100644
--- a/evennia/commands/default/building.py
+++ b/evennia/commands/default/building.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from evennia.utils.eveditor import EvEditor
 from evennia.utils.evmore import EvMore
 from evennia.prototypes import spawner, prototypes as protlib, menus as olc_menus
 from evennia.utils.ansi import raw
+from evennia.prototypes.menus import _format_diff_text_and_options
 
 COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS = class_from_module(settings.COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS)
 
@@ -1930,9 +1931,12 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
       list - show available typeclasses. Only typeclasses in modules actually
              imported or used from somewhere in the code will show up here
              (those typeclasses are still available if you know the path)
+      prototype - clean and overwrite the object with the specified
+               prototype key - effectively making a whole new object.
 
     Example:
       type button = examples.red_button.RedButton
+      type/prototype button=a red button
 
     If the typeclass_path is not given, the current object's typeclass is
     assumed.
@@ -1954,7 +1958,7 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
 
     key = "typeclass"
     aliases = ["type", "parent", "swap", "update"]
-    switch_options = ("show", "examine", "update", "reset", "force", "list")
+    switch_options = ("show", "examine", "update", "reset", "force", "list", "prototype")
     locks = "cmd:perm(typeclass) or perm(Builder)"
     help_category = "Building"
 
@@ -2038,6 +2042,27 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
 
         new_typeclass = self.rhs or obj.path
 
+        prototype = None
+        if "prototype" in self.switches:
+            key = self.rhs
+            prototype = protlib.search_prototype(key=key)
+            if len(prototype) > 1:
+                caller.msg(
+                    "More than one match for {}:\n{}".format(
+                        key, "\n".join(proto.get("prototype_key", "") for proto in prototype)
+                    )
+                )
+                return
+            elif prototype:
+                # one match
+                prototype = prototype[0]
+            else:
+                # no match
+                caller.msg("No prototype '{}' was found.".format(key))
+                return
+            new_typeclass = prototype["typeclass"]
+            self.switches.append("force")
+
         if "show" in self.switches or "examine" in self.switches:
             string = "%s's current typeclass is %s." % (obj.name, obj.__class__)
             caller.msg(string)
@@ -2070,11 +2095,42 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
             hooks = "at_object_creation" if update else "all"
             old_typeclass_path = obj.typeclass_path
 
+            # special prompt for the user in cases where we want
+            # to confirm changes.
+            if "prototype" in self.switches:
+                diff, _ = spawner.prototype_diff_from_object(prototype, obj)
+                txt, options = _format_diff_text_and_options(diff, objects=[obj])
+                prompt = "Applying prototype '%s' over '%s' will cause the follow changes:\n%s\n" % \
+                         (
+                             prototype["key"],
+                             obj.name,
+                             "\n".join(txt)
+                         )
+                if not reset:
+                    prompt += "\n|yWARNING:|n Use the /reset switch to apply the prototype over a blank state."
+                prompt += "\nAre you sure you want to apply these changes [yes]/no?"
+                answer = yield (prompt)
+                answer = "yes" if answer == "" else answer
+                if answer and answer not in ("yes", "y", "no", "n"):
+                    caller.msg(
+                        "Canceled: Either accept the default by pressing return or specify yes/no."
+                    )
+                    return
+                elif answer.strip().lower() in ("n", "no"):
+                    caller.msg("Canceled: No object was modified.")
+                    return
+
             # we let this raise exception if needed
             obj.swap_typeclass(
                 new_typeclass, clean_attributes=reset, clean_cmdsets=reset, run_start_hooks=hooks
             )
 
+            if "prototype" in self.switches:
+                modified = spawner.batch_update_objects_with_prototype(prototype, objects=[obj])
+                prototype_success = modified > 0
+                if not prototype_success:
+                    caller.msg("Prototype %s failed to apply." % prototype["key"])
+
             if is_same:
                 string = "%s updated its existing typeclass (%s).\n" % (obj.name, obj.path)
             else:
@@ -2091,6 +2147,8 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
                 string += " All old attributes where deleted before the swap."
             else:
                 string += " Attributes set before swap were not removed."
+            if "prototype" in self.switches and prototype_success:
+                string += " Prototype '%s' was successfully applied over the object type." % prototype["key"]
 
         caller.msg(string)