diff --git a/mercurial/dagop.py b/mercurial/dagop.py
--- a/mercurial/dagop.py
+++ b/mercurial/dagop.py
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 
 import heapq
 
+from .node import (
+    nullrev,
+)
 from .thirdparty import (
     attr,
 )
@@ -225,6 +228,37 @@
                                         startdepth, stopdepth)
     return generatorset(gen, iterasc=True)
 
+def descendantrevs(revs, revsfn, parentrevsfn):
+    """Generate revision number descendants in revision order.
+
+    Yields revision numbers starting with a child of some rev in
+    ``revs``. Results are ordered by revision number and are
+    therefore topological. Each revision is not considered a descendant
+    of itself.
+
+    ``revsfn`` is a callable that with no argument iterates over all
+    revision numbers and with a ``start`` argument iterates over revision
+    numbers beginning with that value.
+
+    ``parentrevsfn`` is a callable that receives a revision number and
+    returns an iterable of parent revision numbers, whose values may include
+    nullrev.
+    """
+    first = min(revs)
+
+    if first == nullrev:
+        for rev in revsfn():
+            yield rev
+        return
+
+    seen = set(revs)
+    for rev in revsfn(start=first + 1):
+        for prev in parentrevsfn(rev):
+            if prev != nullrev and prev in seen:
+                seen.add(rev)
+                yield rev
+                break
+
 def _reachablerootspure(repo, minroot, roots, heads, includepath):
     """return (heads(::<roots> and ::<heads>))
 
diff --git a/mercurial/revlog.py b/mercurial/revlog.py
--- a/mercurial/revlog.py
+++ b/mercurial/revlog.py
@@ -748,25 +748,7 @@
                                       inclusive=inclusive)
 
     def descendants(self, revs):
-        """Generate the descendants of 'revs' in revision order.
-
-        Yield a sequence of revision numbers starting with a child of
-        some rev in revs, i.e., each revision is *not* considered a
-        descendant of itself.  Results are ordered by revision number (a
-        topological sort)."""
-        first = min(revs)
-        if first == nullrev:
-            for i in self:
-                yield i
-            return
-
-        seen = set(revs)
-        for i in self.revs(start=first + 1):
-            for x in self.parentrevs(i):
-                if x != nullrev and x in seen:
-                    seen.add(i)
-                    yield i
-                    break
+        return dagop.descendantrevs(revs, self.revs, self.parentrevs)
 
     def findcommonmissing(self, common=None, heads=None):
         """Return a tuple of the ancestors of common and the ancestors of heads